DLP Report
PESHAWAR
Vaccinators under the Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI), working as part of the Integrated Health Project (IHP), have called on the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provincial government to immediately release 29 months of withheld salaries.
They have warned that failure to do so will result in a province-wide strike with the support of paramedic unions, starting November 25.
During a press conference at the Peshawar Press Club, EPI vaccinators Hazrat Bilal and Faheem Gul, alongside colleagues, detailed the hardships faced by the 395 workers recruited under the IHP in 2017 at Scale 8, which was later upgraded to Scale 12.
“Despite our unwavering commitment to public health over the last seven years, including recognition of our contributions during the 2020 steering committee meeting, our salaries have been withheld for 29 months,” said Bilal.
Although the finance department has approved the payments, the delay persists due to pending actions by the Cabinet, PWP meetings, and approvals from the Chief Secretary.
This negligence or bureaucratic oversight has forced us into severe financial hardship,” added Bilal, highlighting that complete documentation for the case is available.
Provincial paramedics representative Sadranur Khan noted that the vaccinators have played a critical role in battling diseases such as dengue and COVID-19.
“Two of our colleagues have already lost their lives due to the stress and financial strain of this situation,” Khan said.
The vaccinators demand that the government immediately release their pending salaries and ensure their regularization.
“If our voices continue to be ignored, we will be forced to take our protest to the streets,” Bilal warned.
