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       QUETTA: The Balochistan Grand Alliance, a joint platform of various unions and associations of government employees, on Tuesday gave a two-day deadline to the provincial government for accepting its 12-point charter of demands otherwise employees would launch a week-long protest from May 22.

       Speaking at a press conference here on Tuesday, the leaders of the alliance said that a sit-in would be staged in front of the Balochistan Assembly building.

       BGA Prof Abdul Qudoos Kakar, Haji Ali Asghar Bangulzai and Fareed Khan Achakzai also addressed the presser.

       Prof Kakar criticised government policies towards public sector employees. He strongly opposed the proposed pension reforms, terming them anti-workers, and demanded an end to privatisation and contract hiring in public sector departments.

       Proposed pension reforms termed anti-workers

       The BGA leaders also called for salary increase matching with inflation in the upcoming fiscal budget.

       Mr Kakar announced a phase-wise protest plan that includes wearing black armbands and launching an awareness campaign through media on May 22 and 23; a complete pen-down strike in all government offices on May 25 and 26; suspension of all official and unofficial dispatches from government departments on May 28 and 29; and province-wide protest rallies in Quetta and other districts on May 30.

       Hunger strike camps will be set up outside the Quetta Press Club and district press clubs across Balochistan from May 31 to June 3.

       Published in Dawn, May 21st, 2025