Owing to the ban on public transport entry into the ‘red zone’, low-salaried federal government employees have faced immense problems as they have had to cover a long distances on foot to reach their respective offices every day.
The several incidences of terrorist attacks in the federal capital have resulted in security precautions which have hit hard people belonging to all walks of life. Low ranking government employees are among those who are suffering the most due to unjust restrictions as the six-kilometre long area surrounding Constitution Avenue, Khayaban-i-Suharwardi, Embassy Road and Khayaban-i-Iqbal was declared a ‘red zone’.
Presently, employees working in different departments of the red zone have to get dropped over a kilometere away from their offices. “We have to cover a long distance on foot as the van drop us at the Marriott Hotel,” complained a government employee, Yousaf Chugtai who worked in the railway ministry. Some of the employees were of the view that from a security point of view, the red zone might be a good idea but the government must take measures to reduce their difficulties.
“The government should provide us come kind of conveyance like motor bikes or run special buses in this area” said Wasiq, another employee. Wasiq was also aware of the necessity of the security arrangements but felt that the inconvenience suffered by employees like himself shouldn’t be completely ignored but the government. “Executives should raise their voices at higher levels and take steps to ensure transport facility for low salaried government employees,” he said.
Employees also complained of the bad attitude of the police personnel towards them. “We cannot reach our offices without showing office cards at a number of security checks, and if we forget our cards the police officials mistreat us” said Asghar, an employee working in the finance ministry. Although the SOP of the red zone does not allow the entrance of private vehicles into the red zone, private vehicles often enter the area with only nominal checking.
An official said the local administration had received many complaints and was considering all possible options to reduce the plight of the people who travels into red zone daily. The official said that there was a proposal in the pipeline to start a shuttle service for the employees of all government departments located in the red zone. He made it clear that the entrance of public transport into the Red Zone was could not be considered as the Interior Minister Rehman Malik had clearly announced that such relaxation could considerably weaken security arrangements.
