The Punjab Professors and Lectures Association (PPLA) on Tuesday staged a sit-in outside the Punjab Assembly and demanded implementation of service and pay protection, lifting of one and half year-old-ban on promotion and introduction of five-tier formula in Punjab on pattern of Khyber Pakhtunkhawa (KPK). A physically challenged teacher from Sargodha said that teachers were respected in world but unfortunately they were not treated well in Pakistan.
Another teacher mourned that their promotions had been stalled for more than 1.5 years. He said there was no service structure. In the absence of it, the lectures sometimes had to wait for 20 years for their promotions. In many cases, they would retire in the same grade, he added. "Whenever we demanded our promotions, the department rejected our requests on the pretext of not getting mandatory trainings," a professor said while talking to reporters outside the assembly.
Some professors demanded implantation of five-tier formula for promotions like in KPK. Unfortunately, many lectures and professors were not granted promotion after 20-years of service, they regretted. The lecturers also protested against the cuts in their salaries under different heads. "We have submitted our applications and conveyed our grievances to Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar, Governor House, Punjab Assembly, Higher Education Commission, secretary education and other competent authorities but all in vain," they revealed. The sit-in was continued till filling of this report.
It may be reminded that a group of Lady Health Workers (LHWs) had also staged a sit-in outside the Punjab Assembly and demanded implementation of service structure and grade upgradation besides other demands. The protest was lasted for four day which created severe traffic issues.