Government employees postpone Parliament House sit-in after successful talks

The planned grand sit-in by federal government employees in front of Parliament House on February 10 has been postponed until February 20 following successful negotiations between government representatives and the All Government Employees Grand Alliance (AGEGA), reported 24NewsHD TV channel Sunday.

The deadlock between government officials and employee representatives ended after talks yielded progress on the workers' demands.

According to AGEGA Chief Coordinator Rehman Bajwa, the government has formed a committee to engage in further discussions on the charter of demands, which includes salary reforms, job security, and an increase in allowances.

Bajwa stated that if the negotiations fail, government employees will resume their sit-in on February 20 in front of Parliament House.

"We have agreed to delay our protest in good faith, but if meaningful progress is not made, we will return to demand our rights," he warned.

Federal government employees had initially planned a large-scale sit-in on February 10, demanding an end to salary discrimination, withdrawal of pension reforms, and a 100% increase in medical, conveyance, and housing allowances. Workers from across Pakistan, including all four provinces, Gilgit-Baltistan, and Azad Kashmir, were set to participate in the demonstration.

The protest, organized by AGEGA, aimed to pressure the government into reversing budgetary decisions that imposed higher taxes on salaries and to ensure job security amid privatization efforts. Protesters also called for better reforms in public sector schools and institutions instead of privatization, arguing that employees should not suffer due to policy changes.

With the new government-employee dialogue process underway, workers remain hopeful for a positive resolution but have made it clear that they will not hesitate to resume their protest if their demands are not met by the revised deadline.