Sanitation workers employed under the Suthra Punjab program launched by Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz staged a protest outside the Deputy Commissioner’s office in Nankana, demanding the immediate release of their long-delayed salaries ahead of Eid.
The protest saw dozens of workers, including women, sanitation staff, and supervisors, gather peacefully outside the district administration offices while holding brooms, shovels, and cleaning pails.
The demonstration was aimed at drawing official attention to what workers described as months of unpaid wages despite continued service under the province’s flagship cleanliness initiative.
According to the protesting workers, several employees have not received their salaries for up to four months, while others have been waiting for payments for at least two months.
They said the delays have caused severe financial strain, particularly with Eid approaching, when household expenses traditionally rise.
The workers directly appealed to Deputy Commissioner Muhammad Tasleem Akhtar Rao to intervene and ensure that pending salaries are released without further delay. Protesters said many sanitation workers rely entirely on these wages to manage daily expenses and festive preparations.
Despite their grievances, the demonstrators raised slogans in support of Maryam Nawaz, emphasizing that their protest was not against the Suthra Punjab initiative itself but against administrative delays affecting workers at the ground level.
They expressed hope that the provincial leadership would take notice and order immediate corrective action.
The protest remained orderly throughout, with no reports of clashes or disruption. After voicing their demands, the workers dispersed peacefully and returned to their assigned duties, underscoring their commitment to maintaining sanitation services despite unresolved payment issues.
The incident highlights ongoing challenges in the implementation of large-scale public service programs in Punjab, where frontline workers continue to report delays in compensation even as provincial authorities push for improved urban cleanliness and waste management across the province.
