PESHAWAR: All Government employees held a strong protest demonstration outside the Deputy Commissioner’s office in Swabi, and other districts of the province on Wednesday, rejecting the recently announced Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provincial budget and pension reforms while branding it as an ‘anti-worker’ budget.
The demonstration was organised by the All Government Employees Grand Alliance (AGEGA), a platform representing civil servants across the province. Protesters raised slogans and carried placards reading “Reject the Anti-People Budget,” “Stop Robbing Government Employees,” “Restore the 30% Disparity Allowance,” and “End Cruel Pension Reforms.” Demonstrators expressed deep frustration over the lack of a meaningful salary increase, the failure to reinstate the 30% disparity allowance, and proposed pension reforms, which they claim will reduce long-term benefits for retirees.
According to participants, the new budget has completely failed to address the economic difficulties faced by government workers, particularly as inflation continues to rise sharply. “Prices of essential commodities are going up, but our salaries remain frozen. On top of that, they’re taking away our benefits,” said one protesting employee.
They accused the provincial government of showing indifference to the needs of those who serve in critical public roles, such as health, education, and administration.
In recent years, tensions have been rising between the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government and public sector employees over wages, allowances, and service conditions. Last year, protests also erupted when the disparity reduction allowance (DRA) — initially granted to reduce salary gaps between federal and provincial employees was rolled back, leading to widespread discontent.
The recently announced 2025-26 budget has reignited these tensions. While the budget allocated funds to infrastructure and development, public sector employees say it offered no relief in terms of cost-of-living adjustments, inflation-linked salary increases, or restoration of financial incentives they previously received.
Additionally, the introduction of pension reforms—framed by the government as “necessary fiscal measures”—is viewed by civil servants as a direct threat to their future financial security. Employees argue that these so-called reforms are simply veiled austerity measures targeting their rights.
Many unions, including AGEGA, have voiced concerns that the government is not engaging in meaningful dialogue with employee representatives during the budgeting process.
During the Swabi protest, speakers from various departments warned that unless their demands are accepted, similar demonstrations will take place across the province. They also urged the government to rethink the pension reforms and implement an inflation-adjusted salary increase to prevent a deeper crisis in public service morale.
This protest in Swabi is part of a larger, province-wide wave of unrest, reflecting the anger and disillusionment of civil servants who feel increasingly marginalised in the government’s fiscal policies. Similar Protests also held in Bannu, Karak, DI Khan and Swat.
Read also: Budget 2025-26: Big relief for salaried class and government employees
