NAROWAL: The city has been thrown into chaos as sanitary workers went on strike after not receiving their salaries for three months.

The streets, markets and residential areas are buried under piles of garbage, causing an unbearable stench and health concerns for residents.

Hundreds of workers from the Narowal Municipal Committee protested outside the committee office, demanding immediate payment of their dues.

They chanted slogans against the municipal committee and the district administration. They expressed outrage over the prolonged delay.

“We haven’t been paid for three months. There’s nothing left to eat at home and our children are starving,” said Naeem, one of the protesting workers.

“We can’t pay electricity or gas bills, and our children are falling ill due to the change in weather. We can’t even afford medical treatment.”

Another worker, Khurshid, said both the municipal committee and the contractor are passing blame for the non-payment.

“The officers claim Rs180 million has been paid to the contractor for salaries, but the contractor says the money hasn’t arrived,” he said.

The timing of the strike is especially critical, as Christian workers highlighted their inability to buy clothes or shoes for their children ahead of Christmas celebrations.

Citizens are bearing the brunt of the strike, with streets and public spaces covered in rotting waste.

The worsening conditions have prompted workers to call for the intervention of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz to resolve the crisis.

The protestors vowed to continue their strike until their demands are met, raising concerns about the growing public health and sanitation crisis in the city.

TOBA TEK SINGH: Scores of sanitary workers from the Faisalabad Waste Management Company (FWMC) staged a protest on Tuesday on Dijkot Road against wage deductions by a new contractor.

The workers blocked traffic for an hour by parking garbage containers on the road.

Speaking to reporters, they said the contractor had deducted 10 days’ wages, citing ‘training sessions’ during the initial days after the cleanliness operations were transferred from Faisalabad Waste Management Company to the contractor.

They also demanded the timely payment of their December salaries before Christmas.

Published in Dawn, December 11th, 2024