ISLAMABAD: Sacked employees of Radio Pakistan held a sit-in outside the parliament house against the ‘forced lay-off’ in the federal capital today (Tuesday).
A memorandum issued by Pakistan Broadcasting Corporation (PBC) on October 20 terminated the service of 177 news staff, 531 program staff and 41 from NCAC radio station, and other web desk staff citing a ‘budget deficit and no need of contractual human resource’ as its defence.
According to a spokesperson, PBC is facing a budget deficit of Rs. 942.887 million during the current fiscal year 2020-21. The annual emoluments of the contractual staff to the tune of Rs.181.752 million are being paid from the Program, News and Current Affairs production expenses.
In response to the lay-off announcement, Radio Pakistan’s sacked employees staged a mass sit-in in front of parliament house demanding restoration of their services. The sacked employees, carrying placards and banners, chanted slogans against the PBC authorities and the government.
One of the protestors said, “We were working for the last 20 years on contract basis and now they have been sacked without serving any notice.”
The protesters further said that Prime Minister Imran Khan had promised to provide 10 million jobs. “However, now several of the employees are being laid off every day,” they said, alleging that the government has illegally fired them in the dark of night.
