MUZAFFARABAD: More than a month into their partial strike, employees of the Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) health department, mostly the non-gazetted ones, on Wednesday announced their decision to boycott the upcoming anti-polio vaccination campaign, even though the government maintained that several of their demands had already been accepted in principle.
The employees, representing 10 organisations, have been observing a daily two-hour pen-down strike since Feb 13 from 10a.m. to 12p.m., in support of a 21-point charter of demands. They also stage a weekly rally from the Directorate General Health office to the local press club.
Khalid Mahmood, a spokesman for the protesting organisations, said the limited duration of the strike was aimed at minimising inconvenience to the public while still pressing their case before the government.
“In fact, it’s not a strike; it’s an awareness campaign,” he asserted.He claimed that representatives had held meetings with several officials, including the prime minister, and were given assurances, but no tangible progress had been made.
“Now we will hold protests at all district headquarters on April 6 and a major demonstration in Muzaffarabad on April 7. We will also boycott the polio campaign starting from April 13,” he said. The protesting groups include the Health Employees Organisation, Paramedical Staff Association, Young Nurses Association, MCH Association, MNCH Association, Supporting Staff Association and the Democratic Doctors Association, among others.
According to the spokesman, key demands include the introduction of separate service structures for paramedics, supporting staff, nurses and allied health professionals, with a revised basic pay scale and a four-tier formula.
It also calls for upgradation of various posts, establishment of a health foundation, and removal of the graduation condition for promotions to BPS-17, arguing that health workers possess technical qualifications and skills.
Other demands include notification of health allowances in line with the 2026 basic pay scales, payment of risk allowances and arrears in accordance with court rulings, and permission for dispensers to open medical stores alongside pharmacists.
The employees further demanded implementation of a minimum monthly wage of Rs40,000, regularisation of staff under various health programmes, creation of new posts in hospitals, and provision of incentives such as night duty allowances or compensatory leave.
They also called for clarification regarding the applicability of hospital charges to basic health units and rural health centres, payment of allowances to female doctors working in such facilities, and provision of maternity leave for ad hoc female doctors. “If the government can provide a Rs4 billion package for 1,600 doctors, it should extend a similar gesture to more than 13,000 other employees of the health department,” Mr Mahmood said.
When contacted, Director General Health Dr Aftab Ahmed Khan said that several demands had already been accepted in principle and were under consideration at relevant forums. He cited, for instance, a summary seeking approval of over Rs1.16 billion for health allowances, which was currently pending with the finance department.
He added that the proposed Health Foundation Act had already been drafted and sent to the cabinet for approval.
Dr Khan said at least three of the demands had no precedent in any other province, and the protesting employees had been asked to provide examples. He stressed that Prime Minister Raja Faisal Rathore and Health Minister Bazil Ali Naqvi were committed to resolving the issues, urging employees to adopt a conciliatory approach given the sensitive nature of their profession.
Published in Dawn, April 2nd, 2026
