Teachers Protest Against Sindh Government’s Pension Rules, Black Flags Hoisted at Schools

Sanghar (Hasnain Ashiq Saand) Teachers across Sindh staged protests against the newly introduced pension rules of the provincial government. On the call of GSTA Sindh, black flags were hoisted at government schools in Sanghar district while teachers wore black armbands to register their protest. Despite the demonstrations, academic activities continued as usual.

Speaking on the occasion, GSTA Sanghar President Rustam Nizamani, General Secretary Fazalullah Umrani, and GSTA Shaheed Benazirabad Division Secretary Zulfiqar Ali Umrani said that depriving employees of their pension and gratuity benefits in the name of new pension rules was unacceptable. They demanded the immediate withdrawal of the notification, stressing that no cuts in pension, gratuity, or other benefits would be tolerated. The leaders added that instead of making government jobs insecure, the state should guarantee employment and a secure future for its employees.

The leaders further announced that a meeting of the Sindh Employees Alliance would be held in Hyderabad on Wednesday, August 20, where the next course of action would be decided.

Meanwhile, P T Alf (Primary Teachers Association) in Tando Adam also joined the protest by hoisting black flags at all primary and high schools. Teachers at Government Boys Sindhi Main Primary School, Urdu Main Primary School, Zeenat-un-Niswaan Girls Primary School, Girls Sindhi Main Primary School, Girls Urdu Main Primary School, Government Abdul Majeed Dero Primary School, Sher Muhammad Dero Primary School, and Government Colonel Muhammad Hanif School, among others, wore black armbands to express solidarity.

Teachers warned the government that if the pension rules were not withdrawn, the scope of their protest would be expanded further.