KARACHI: Health workers across Sindh have declared they will suspend services at all outpatient departments (OPDs) from Tuesday, pressing the provincial government to address their long-standing salary and allowance grievances.
The protestors, led by the Grand Health Alliance (GHA) an umbrella group that includes the Pakistan Medical Association, Young Doctors Association, Young Nurses Association, Allied Health Professionals Association Sindh, Sindh Paramedical Staff, Young Paramedics, and Sindh Employees Alliance are demanding a 70 percent salary hike for permanent staff from grade 1 to 22. They are also seeking a 50 percent increase in disparity allowance, timely release of group insurance and benevolent fund payments, and assurances that no cuts will be made to pensions.
Union leaders announced that while emergency services would remain functional, OPDs and administrative sections at government hospitals across the province would remain shut until the authorities respond positively. The decision came after a meeting at Karachi’s Civil Hospital, attended by senior alliance members including Sindh Employees Alliance Chairman Haji Muhammad Ashraf Khaskheli.
Speaking to reporters, the leaders clarified that the strike was not politically motivated but purely aimed at securing what they described as “long-denied rights.” One representative said, “This move is for the acceptance of our rightful demands. The government must take concrete steps if it wants services to resume.”
They added that health employees across Sindh were united under a single platform and were prepared to continue their protest, even at the cost of personal sacrifice, until their demands are met.
