Islamabad – Sanitary workers employed by the Capital Development Authority (CDA) have not received their salaries for the past three months, leading to a dire crisis. These predominantly Christian workers, who play a vital role in maintaining public cleanliness, have resorted to climbing high electric poles in protest, threatening suicide if their financial situation is not resolved immediately. This drastic action highlights their desperation as they face the crippling inability to provide for their families.
Aslam Pervez Sahotra, President of the Pakistan Masiha Millat Party, expressed grave concern over the situation. He stated, “The children of these workers are not receiving milk, school fees have gone unpaid, and many children are now forced to stay home. Parents are at a breaking point, unable to watch their children suffer, which is driving them to these extreme measures.”
Sahotra further emphasized the dedication of these workers, who begin their arduous shifts at 6:15 a.m. to ensure that roads are clean and ready for morning traffic. Despite their commitment to maintaining public health, they face severe injustices such as delays in salary and lack of basic support. “These workers clean the city so that others do not fall sick, yet they are left struggling for their own survival. This is a deeply cruel situation,” he said, calling on the government to immediately release their overdue payments.
This is not the first time such a crisis has occurred. In 2018, sanitation workers faced similar delays due to the division of responsibilities between the Metropolitan Corporation Islamabad and the CDA's financial department. The structural issues within these entities continue to create recurring payment problems.
Social discrimination compounds these challenges, as job postings for sanitation roles often specify that only Christians can apply. “This discriminatory practice must be stopped, and the government must ensure equal employment opportunities for all citizens of Pakistan,” Sahotra said.
Female workers also reported additional hardships, including the lack of transport allowances. Many share cabs to reach work, incurring costs that become difficult to cover by month’s end. Widowed workers and those supporting ill spouses are especially burdened, struggling just to feed their families. Additionally, the nature of their work exposes them to health risks, including allergies, without any access to healthcare benefits.
The Pakistan Masiha Millat Party has called for urgent government action, emphasizing that these essential workers deserve respect, timely compensation, and the assurance of job security.
