Nurses protest for pay raise, promotion

RECORDER REPORT

LAHORE: Thousands of nurses from all public sector hospitals on Thursday staged a protest demonstration in front of Punjab Assembly to press their demands of pay raise and promotions.

The nurses under the banner of Punjab Nursing Association (PNA) and Young Nurses Association (YNA) gathered in front of Punjab Assembly in violation of section 144 imposed on the Mall Road.

Owing to protest demonstration by nurses, the traffic around the press club was at a standstill.

The protestors remained present at the Mall from 10am to about 6pm and returned home empty handed. They announced that they would end their protest on arrival of Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif. The Special Secretary Health reached the venue but he failed to convince the protesting nurses.

Protesting nurses said that the Punjab government promised to increase their salaries but failed to keep the promise. Nurses from other parts of the province also participated in the rally.

PPP leader Shaukat Basra met the protesting nurses and promised to raise the issue in the Punjab assembly. He criticised the Punjab government for not fulfilling the demands of protesting nurses.