MULTAN - The paramedics observed a complete strike against non-acceptance of their demands and staged a big rally here on Wednesday. The strike call was given by Punjab Paramedics Alliance and the paramedical staff from all wards except emergency services ceased work.
Holding placards and banners inscribed with their demands, the paramedics assembled outside Multan Institute of Cardiology, took a round of Children Complex and terminated at Nishtar Hospital. They shouted slogans against the Punjab government and warned that they would go on strike for indefinite period if the demands were not accepted forthwith.
The speakers said on this occasion that the Punjab Government subjected the paramedics to a step-motherly treatment as the chief minister himself made a promise of issuing notification of service structure for scale 1 to 4 workers but did not fulfil it. They added that the salaries of the paramedics ranged between Rs8,000 to 12000 which were rather inadequate to run a house in view of current price hike. They lamented that the Chief Minister offered professional allowance and pay protection to the doctors and nurses but neglected paramedics who were the most important faction of health sector.
They demanded of the chief minister to immediately issue service structure notification, announce professional allowance, offer pay protection, confirm the services, set up paramedical college in Multan and construct residential colony for paramedics in Multan otherwise they would further expand the gamut of their protest. The rally was led by AD Kanwal, Iqbal Tair, Bashir Joya, Muhammad Ameen, Yasir Shah and others.