MANSEHRA: The health department’s employees staged a rally here on Wednesday for pay raise based on inflation.

“The prices of essential commodities and kitchen items have increased almost 100 per cent over the last few months, so the government should not only raise our salaries accordingly but also announce a one-time inflation bonus in the next budget,” president of the low-grade employees association Qari Mohammad Shafi told protesters outside the press club here.

The rally began from outside the King Abdullah Teaching Hospital and ended outside the press club after taking the Abbottabad Road and Kashmir Road.

The protesters held banners and placards and shouted slogans for 100 per cent pay raise and inflation bonus.

Complain about escalating prices of essential goods

“The government didn’t increase our salaries in the last budget despite a surge in the prices of essential commodities. Now, we want them [pay] to be hiked in accordance with the current inflation rate,” he said.

Senior vice-president of the association demanded pay raise and promotions.

General secretary of the association Mohammad Asad, who was also in attendance, warned that if the government didn’t announce 100 percent increase in salaries of its employees, then they would begin street protests.

POWER PROTEST: The residents on Wednesday took to the streets to protest prolonged and unscheduled power cuts and blocked the Oghi-Mansehra Road in Maloga area on Wednesday.

The protesters set fire to old tyres shouting slogans against the federal government over the growing power crisis.

Chairman-elect of the Malokra village council Mufti Asif Shahzad told protesters that if the prolonged and unscheduled power cuts didn’t stop, the residents would extend the protest to the entire district.

He complained that power suspension lasted over 16 hours daily paralysing life during scorching weather.

“We [residents] will besiege the Peshawar Electric Supply Company’s offices here if power crisis continues,” he said.

The council chairman said elderly people and patients were worst hit by the excessive power cuts.

The protesters dispersed peacefully after police officers showed up and promised to take up the matter with the relevant authorities for action.

Mansehra city and its adjoining areas also recorded prolonged power outages.

Both domestic and commercial consumers threatened the blocking of the Karakoram Highway for an indefinite period.

Resident Mohammad Zeeshan complained that the federal government had claimed before its formation it would revive economy and address energy crisis, but it had miserably failed to deliver on those claims.

Published in Dawn, June 9th, 2022