LAHORE, April 27: Teachers will stage demonstrations at all the district headquarters in Punjab on May 7 to press for cancellation of massive transfers of administrative officers and increase in pay allowance.

This was announced in a statement issued here on Sunday by Muttahida Mahaz-i-Asatiza chairman Hafiz Abdul Nasir and other office-bearers.

They said that not only the principles of merit and seniority had been violated in transfers but women officers from southern Punjab had also been transferred to northern Punjab up to 200 kilometers away from their homes.

Even the executive district officer (Education), Kasur, who retired on April 25 and the executive district officer (Literacy), Attock, retiring during the next few days had been transferred, they said.

A grade 18 official working on contract had been posted against a grade 19 post as district education officer, Khushab, they said.

The large-scale transfers of administrative officers have instead disrupted the working of the education department.

They regretted that the government was busy ordering transfer of teachers at a time when they were finding it hard to make both ends meet due to an unprecedented increase in the cost of living.

The government should not only withdraw the transfer orders but also make their pay and allowances commensurate with the increase in cost of living, they said.