Government employees announce march on Parliament House ahead of budget

ISLAMABAD: Government employees on Thursday announced a protest march towards Parliament House on the eve of the federal budget, as agitation over pay and pension reforms intensified in the federal capital.

Employees began gathering at Pak Secretariat Chowk, from where they plan to march towards Parliament House after participants arrive from all provinces.

The protesters, who had been staging a sit-in outside the Ministry of Finance for the past two days, vowed to continue their demonstration until their demands are met.

Protest gathers momentum in capital

The agitation, led by the All Government Employees Grand Alliance (AggiGA), has drawn workers from multiple departments, with organisers claiming that the movement would continue in front of Parliament House until assurances are provided.

Chief organiser Rehman Bajwa said employees were demanding the inclusion of their proposals in the Federal Budget 2026-27 and immediate implementation of a March 10, 2025 agreement.

The protesters also reiterated demands for the merger of all ad-hoc relief allowances into basic pay, introduction of a revised pay scale structure, and incorporation of all ad-hoc relief into salaries.

They further called for a 50 per cent increase in salaries for employees earning less than Rs50,000 per month.

Calls for pay revision and reversal of reforms

Among other demands, the employees sought a 200pc increase in conveyance, medical, and house rent allowances, withdrawal of pension reforms, and continuation of the existing pension framework.

They also demanded an additional 30pc disparity reduction allowance to address wage gaps across grades.

The alliance further demanded abolition of the 25pc tax slab for teachers and researchers along with refund of deducted amounts, regularisation of daily-wage and contract staff, and restoration of jobs for families of employees who died during service.

Protesters also called for the formation of joint committees on institutions listed for privatisation and demanded that the minimum monthly wage for government employees be fixed at Rs50,000.