Muzaffarabad (PoJK): Health department staff in Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir have launched an indefinite strike over unpaid health allowances and other unresolved demands, setting up a protest camp outside the gate of Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Hospital in Muzaffarabad. The agitation, now in its 17th day, has disrupted services and increased pressure on regional authorities to act.
Protesters say repeated assurances from officials have not resulted in the release of the promised allowances or improvements to long-standing service grievances. Employees have vowed to continue the strike until the Government of PoJK implements the commitments it previously agreed to.
Farah Sadia, one of the protesters, expressed frustration at what she described as persistent neglect by the authorities. She said staff have not received benefit increases or allowances and warned that the situation harms economically disadvantaged patients and families who rely on public health services.
Raja Zulfiqar, president of the Paramedical Association, said healthcare workers view themselves as equal citizens entitled to basic rights and remain determined to press their demands through lawful, peaceful means. He described the movement as ethical and orderly and urged a prompt resolution in the interests of both government and staff.
Protests by government employees are common in PoJK, where workers across departments frequently allege discrimination, delayed payments and poor working conditions. Aggrieved employees point to repeated promises that have failed to translate into concrete action, highlighting governance gaps and delays in policy implementation in the region.
This report is based on a syndicated feed and published as received. The Tribune assumes no responsibility for its accuracy or completeness.
