June 16, 2023
By Maryam Missal
LAHORE
On Friday, the Balochistan Medical Teacher’s Association (BMTA) protest in Quetta entered its 45th consecutive day as the government has yet to respond to their demands. Medical faculty members, including professors, lecturers and teachers, associated with the BMTA have boycotted all classes until their demands to increase the teaching allowance from a paltry Rs. 500 to Rs. 100,000.
The protest was launched on May 2, with a charter of demands that also calls for the regularization of the Health Professionals Allowance.
“This is humiliating for the medical teaching faculty,”
President of the BMTA Dr. Zahoor Ahmed told Voicepk.net.
“Either give us one lakh or nothing.”
Dr. Ahmed further mentioned that the protesters will boycott outpatient departments (OPDs) if their demands remain unfilled and if they are not provided with resources.
Principal Secretary of the Chief Minister of Balochistan met the protesters, assuring them that their demands will be entertained. However, Dr. Ahmed claims so far no progress has been made to this end. Meanwhile, medical students say that protests have disrupted their academic work.
Around 400 medical teaching professionals will be the beneficiaries of increased teaching and medical professionals allowances if the protests prove successful.
The BMTA also demands new lecture halls, hostels and increased monthly stipends for medical students. Moreover, the protesters are urging the government to have all vacant teaching posts filled through the Balochistan Public Service Commission (BPSC) immediately.
Similarly, 11 school teachers have set up a hunger-strike protest camp outside the Balochistan Assembly which has entered its 10th day today. The protestors are demanding equal rights and treatment as of teachers in other provinces, and the upgradation of 30,000 teachers
