LHWs sit-in enters fourth day as deadlock with govt persists

The Punjab Health Department has claimed that their "rightful" demands were accepted.

LAHORE (Dunya News) - Lady Health Workers (LHWs) continued their sit-in outside the Punjab Assembly for a fourth consecutive day on Thursday while rejecting government’s claim of having their issues resolved, Dunya News reported.

Contrarily, the Punjab Health Department has claimed that the provincial government has accepted their rightful demands.

However, the claim has been rejected by the president of the LHWs Association, who said that the protest would continue till a notification in favour of their demands was not issued.

The LHW’s sit-in began on Monday morning near Charing Cross over demands including increase in their salaries, proper service structure and scale up-gradation. They vowed to continue their protest until their demands were met.

The protesters also said they had the status of permanent employees, but no access to of pension and other pricks and privileges.

Meanwhile, Punjab Health Minister Yasmeen Rashid termed the sit-in as a move to politicise the issue. She maintained that the government had accepted the demands of lady health workers and have lifted the ban on induction.

The protest caused traffic congestion in most parts of the city and blockade on Mall and adjacent roads as important government offices and commercial areas including WAPDA House, Governor House, Alhamra Hall, Lahore Zoo, CCPO Office, Lahore High Court, State Bank of Pakistan, GPO, DCO Office, Panorama Shopping Center and Hall Road Electronic Market were located nearby.

Earlier on Tuesday, gusty winds in the city uprooted the tents of protesting lady health workers who were forces to take shelter in nearby buildings.