PUBLIC-SECTOR employees of Punjab seem to be feeling frustrated by the provincial government`s delaying tactics with respect to the fulfilment of their demands. Various trade bodies, including the Young Teachers Association, the AllPakistan Clerks Association, the AllGovernment Employees Grand Alliance, the Young Doctors Association, and municipality organisations are initiating a protest campaign in Lahore to air their true feelings in this critical regard.

The last time a protest was held was in February which lasted 10 days. To make the employees end their protest, the government at the time had made promises, assuring that the demands would be met soon. A committee had been formed, but nothing happened thereafter. Anotherround of protest was planned on March 31, but it was cancelled on the government`s request based on tense circumstances caused by the American-Israeli war against Iran.

The employees` demands are neither unreasonable nor inordinate, given the government`s financial capacity. The sense of deprivation among the employees is so suffocating that even women employees have also joined these protests. This time the employees seem to be really frustrated because the government has continued to renege on its promises, apparently testing the patience and passion of its own employees. The employees simply want to register their protest against the failure of the Punjab government to duly address matters of serious concern.

M. Nadeem Nadir Kasur