SHEIKHUPURA: The Punjab government’claims regarding the protection of minority rights was put to a messy test on Saturday as hundreds of sanitation workers, many from the Christian community, turned the city’s infrastructure into a dumping ground to protest months of financial neglect.
شیخوپورہ میں سُتھرا پنجاب کے ملازمین کا تنخواہیں نہ ملنے پر انوکھا احتجاج، کوڑا پھینک کر مین سرگودھا روڈ کو بند کر دیا۔۔!! pic.twitter.com/x82sTGAMEH
— Khurram Iqbal (@khurram143) April 4, 2026
On what should have been a festive “Moon Night” (the eve of celebrations) for the Christian staff of the Clean Punjab Program, the streets of Sheikhupura were instead defined by stench and slogans. Facing the prospect of an Easter without food or festivities, workers blocked the main Sargodha Road and the Nabipura Underpass by dumping heaps of garbage across the thoroughfares.
The demonstration highlighted a stark disconnect between the provincial government’s “Minority Package” claims and the ground reality for those performing the city’s most essential labor. While official narratives often highlight inclusivity, the workers reported that their bank accounts remained empty as the holiday approached.
“It is our moon night,” lamented one worker amidst the pile of refuse. “Our children, parents, and families are waiting for our salaries so we can celebrate. How can the government claim to care for us when we cannot even buy a meal for Easter?”
The General Manager of the Clean Punjab Program in Sheikhupura confirmed the dire situation, stating that the local management is currently “in touch with higher authorities” to resolve the bottleneck.
“The salaries have not yet been transferred to the accounts,” the GM admitted. “We are hopeful that the funds will arrive today.”
