Employees rally for unpaid salaries

Anees Takar

MARDAN: The employees of Mardan Medical Complex Hospital voiced their frustration over unpaid salaries by staging a protest and taking to the streets. Their rally disrupted the hospital’s OPD services, leaving them with no choice but to boycott work.

The demonstrators marched from the Hospital OPD to Bacha Khan Medical College, holding signs that listed their demands and chanting slogans for their rights. The Paramedical Association, represented by President Sajjad Ahmed and General Secretary Muhammad Riaz, led the protest. Sajjad Ahmed issued a stern ultimatum, giving the government and the finance department three days to release the long-overdue salaries.

He highlighted the irony of government expenditures rising while its own employees struggle to put food on the table. Sajad Ahmed blamed the finance department for delaying salary payments and criticized the failing MTI system, suggesting it be abandoned. Furthermore, he revealed that the finance department had imposed the MTI agreement on Khyber Pakhtunkhwa hospitals, adding that the administration would pay the department along with the employees. In response, a spokesperson from Mardan Medical Complex pointed out the lack of funds to cover employee salaries. While funds were initially provided for July and August, subsequent months remained unpaid.

The spokesperson clarified that they had shifted from quarterly to monthly funding, leaving September’s salaries unpaid. To resolve the crisis, senior officials from the hospital are holding daily meetings with the health department and finance department, striving to secure funds promptly and compensate the deserving employees.

Journalists attend workshop: A one-day training workshop for journalists, focused on election reporting, took place at a local hotel in Mardan. This event, supported by the non-governmental organization TDEA and IRSP, aimed to boost media involvement in election-related activities. The workshop covered topics such as election laws, addressing false news and misinformation, and promoting inclusivity by involving disadvantaged groups in elections, such as women, transgenders, the elderly, persons with disabilities, and minorities.

During the workshop, participants discussed the media’s role, code of conduct, and responsibilities in addressing election violations. TDEA Program Manager Mehwish Muneeb and IRSP Program Coordinator Aziz Ahmed provided insights into reporting election results both before and on election day. They highlighted the importance of accurate reporting and explained how reporters should present their findings. The training also delved into how journalists should interact with polling station staff and understand election rules and regulations.

The workshop emphasized the significance of ethical journalism and the safe reporting of elections, encouraging journalists to prioritize facts and maintain public trust. The event underscored the vital role that media plays in Pakistan’s democratic processes and the need for transparent election coverage, from campaign to counting, to strengthen electoral democracy in the country.