Demonstrators Demand Salary Reforms and Service Structure Changes
ISLAMABAD: Hundreds of government employees gathered in the federal capital on Friday to press for salary reforms and improvements to their service structure ahead of the presentation of the Federal Budget 2026-27.
The protesters assembled at Secretariat Chowk before attempting to march toward Parliament House. Employees from various provinces joined the demonstration, which followed two days of protests outside the Ministry of Finance. Organizers said participants included teachers, clerical staff, technical workers, Class-IV employees, labor representatives and pensioners.
Members of the All Government Employees Grand Alliance (AGEGA) stated that they planned to continue their sit-in outside Parliament House until the government formally accepted their Charter of Demands.
Employees Seek Pay Raises and Reversal of Pension Reforms
The protesters urged the government to incorporate several long-standing demands into the upcoming budget. Key demands include the implementation of a March 2025 agreement, the merger of all ad hoc relief allowances into basic pay and the introduction of revised pay scales for 2026.
Additionally, employees are seeking a 50 percent salary increase for workers earning less than Rs50,000 per month. They have also called for a 200 percent increase in conveyance, medical and house rent allowances.
Other demands include a 30 percent disparity reduction allowance, withdrawal of pension reforms, removal of the 25 percent tax slab for teachers and researchers, regularization of daily-wage and contract employees, and restoration of employment quotas for families of deceased government workers.
Police Intervention Leads to Tensions During March
As demonstrators attempted to move toward Parliament premises, Islamabad Police intervened to stop the march. The situation escalated into a confrontation between protesters and law enforcement personnel.
According to reports, police used batons to disperse sections of the crowd. Despite the clashes, protest leaders vowed to continue their campaign until authorities address their concerns.
AGEGA representatives criticized what they described as unequal austerity measures, arguing that government employees and pensioners should not bear the burden of economic challenges alone. They also expressed concerns over recent pension and retirement benefit reforms, claiming they have increased financial pressure on serving and retired employees across the country.
