QUETTA: Government employees from across Balochistan staged a major protest on Thursday, demanding tax relief and decrying what they called the provincial administration’s insincerity and corruption. The demonstration, organized by the Balochistan Grand Alliance, saw a large rally march through the city’s highways before converging on the local press club.
Protesters carried placards and black flags, symbolizing their grievances, before submitting a detailed 40-point charter of demands to the authorities. The charter highlighted key issues, including a reduction in income tax on salaries and the implementation of the Disparity Reduction Allowance (DRA).
Addressing the crowd, Alliance Chairman Abdul Qudoos Kakar delivered a scathing critique of the government. He declared past negotiations a failure, accusing the state of forming committees only to waste time. “Government promises have been broken repeatedly,” Kakar stated, “but our struggle will continue until demands are met.”
Kakar sharply criticized Chief Minister Mir Sarfraz Bugti, alleging, “There is no time to meet employees, but there is time for TikTok.” He rejected the government’s claim of having no budget for the DRA, asserting that 80% of Balochistan’s budget is lost to corruption while funds exist for official luxuries. In a powerful statement, he contrasted the plight of ordinary citizens with the elite, noting, “While rulers’ children receive treatment abroad, our children die without treatment.”
Announcing an escalation, Kakar declared a complete two-day lockdown across Balochistan on December 30 and 31, during which all government offices would remain shut, signaling a hardening stance in the employees’ campaign.
Meanwhile the Punjab government informed the Lahore High Court (LHC) that upcoming local government elections in the province will be conducted on a party-based system, allowing political parties to issue tickets to their candidates.
Furthermore, the submission was made during the hearing of multiple petitions challenging the Punjab Local Government Act, 2025. The proceedings were conducted before Justice Sultan Tanveer Ahmed, where the Punjab Assistant Advocate General appeared on behalf of the provincial government.
