QUETTA: Government employees across Balochistan province staged a province-wide pen-down strike on Monday, halting work in public offices to press for their demands.
The strike followed a call by the Balochistan Grand Alliance, a coalition of government employees’ organizations. Employees suspended official work and held protests in government departments across the province.
In response, the Balochistan Services and General Administration Department (S&GAD) directed authorities to identify employees who participated in the protest.
Official letters were sent to the additional chief secretary for planning and development, the additional chief secretary for home affairs, senior members of the provincial bureaucracy, the inspector general of police, and secretaries of all provincial departments.
The letters instructed departments to submit the names and designations of employees who joined the strike. Authorities were ordered to provide the details immediately.
Meanwhile, the Hazara Democratic Party voiced support for the Balochistan Grand Alliance and endorsed the employees’ demands.
In a statement, the party urged the provincial government to accept all legitimate demands, including the Disparity Reduction Allowance (DRA), without delay.
The party said Balochistan’s government employees receive lower salaries and fewer benefits than their counterparts in other provinces. It said inflation and poverty levels in the province remain higher than elsewhere in the country.
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Despite difficult conditions, the statement said, government employees continue to perform their duties with commitment and integrity.
The Hazara Democratic Party also announced full support for the protest and strike planned for Dec. 30 and 31, and called for immediate approval of the employees’ demands.
