All Pakistan Clerks Association (APCA) on Wednesday has staged a protest rally in Multan to press the authorities for 50 percent increase in their salaries keeping in view the price hike of essential commodities, withdrawal of sales tax on edibles and daily use items. Abdul Rehman Sanghera, Muhammad Afzal, Central President Muneer Baloch led the demo.
Protesting community stated that the government has failed to meet the needs of APCA workers and urged the authorities to enhance their salaries as early as possible. The All Pakistan Clerks Association leaders threatened to lay siege to the provincial assemblies and the parliament house and stage sit-ins if the government employees' salaries were not increased along with utility allowance.
Following the call of the APCA, the employees of 1 to 16 BPS observed complete strike in Multan and other districts of South Punjab. Because of the closed down offices, the people who visited the offices hailing from far flung areas of the district had to face hardships and returned disappointed.
In addition, the officials of above 16 scales could not be seen in their offices as well. The rally culminated at the Nawan Shehr Chowk. Carrying banners and placards inscribed with their demands, the protesters were chanting slogans against the federal and the provincial governments. Addressing the rally, APCA leaders said that now they would never accept government's agreements and committees. The APCA leaders said that the everyday skyrocketing hike in electricity and gas tariffs and in the prices of petroleum products and edibles had made the life of poor workers miserable.
They said that the rulers were spending national sources and money with both hands for their vested interest to strengthen their parties in stead of providing relief to workers and government employees. They demanded immediate increase in their salaries and early issuance of a notification of the utility allowance.