Sanitation staff working under the Suthra Punjab Program held protests in Okara after not receiving their salaries for the past two months. The workers said they have continued their duties despite long hours but have not been paid, which has created serious financial problems for them.
According to the workers, many of them are working shifts of up to 14 hours a day. They said rising inflation has made it even harder to manage household expenses without regular income.
In protest, some workers dumped garbage on roads and public places to highlight their situation. Videos of these protests quickly spread on social media, drawing public attention.
The workers demanded that the Punjab government ensure immediate payment of their pending salaries. They said they are willing to continue their work but need fair and timely compensation.
Similar protests were also reported in Faisalabad, where sanitation services are being managed through outsourcing arrangements. Workers there raised the same concerns about delayed wages and poor working conditions.
Officials have responded by issuing notices to the company responsible for managing sanitation services. Authorities have also directed that all unpaid salaries be cleared as soon as possible to avoid further disruption.
Experts say delays in payments can seriously affect essential services like sanitation, which are critical for public health and cleanliness. They stress that timely salaries are important to maintain workforce stability.
The situation has raised concerns about accountability in outsourced public services and the need for better monitoring systems.
