Peshawar Protest Led by Anwar Khan Against Health Council Merger
A protest took place outside the Peshawar Press Club on Wednesday, led by Anwar Khan, the Provincial President of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Paramedical Association. The demonstration aimed to oppose the decision to merge the Pakistan Allied Health Professional Council (AHPC) with the Pakistan Nursing Midwifery Council (PNMC).
Key figures in the protest included former Provincial President Syed Rooydar Shah, Provincial Chairman Johar Ali, Peshawar Division President Mujahid Azam, Additional Secretary General Shamsul Taj, and Peshawar District General Secretary Syed Mubarak Shah. They urged the federal government to prioritize the registration of millions of paramedics nationwide instead of merging the councils, as this could generate billions in revenue and provide employment opportunities abroad.
The speakers expressed strong opposition to the merger, calling it a serious injustice to millions of paramedics who serve tirelessly in hospitals across the country. They carried banners and placards with slogans denouncing the merger and called for its retraction.
Several councils operate under Pakistan’s health sector, including the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council, the Pharmacy Council, the Homeopathic Council, the Traditional Medicine Council, and the Pakistan Animal Sciences Council. However, there is an effort to merge the newly established Pakistan Allied Health Professional Council with the Nursing Council, which the protesters strongly oppose.
The speakers emphasized the importance of acting judiciously to prevent harming and depriving millions of paramedics of their rights.
Doubts Revealed
Peshawar -: Peshawar is a city in Pakistan, close to the border with Afghanistan. It’s one of the oldest cities in the country.
Anwar Khan -: Anwar Khan is a leader of a group of healthcare workers in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa region of Pakistan.
Health Council Merger -: This means combining two different health organizations into one. In this case, it’s about merging the Pakistan Allied Health Professional Council with the Pakistan Nursing Midwifery Council.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa -: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is a province in Pakistan. It’s one of the regions or states in the country.
Paramedical Association -: This is a group of healthcare workers who are not doctors or nurses but help in medical care, like paramedics.
Peshawar Press Club -: This is a place in Peshawar where journalists and media people gather to discuss news and events.
Federal Government -: The central government of Pakistan that makes decisions for the whole country.
Pakistan Allied Health Professional Council -: This is an organization in Pakistan that looks after the interests of healthcare workers who are not doctors or nurses.
Pakistan Nursing Midwifery Council -: This is an organization in Pakistan that looks after the interests of nurses and midwives.
Paramedics -: Paramedics are healthcare workers who provide emergency medical care, often in ambulances.
Revenue -: Revenue means the money that is earned from doing something, like providing services or selling goods.
Employment Opportunities Abroad -: This means job chances in other countries outside of Pakistan.
Retraction -: Retraction means taking back or canceling a decision or statement.
Injustice -: Injustice means something that is unfair or not right.