An employee of the Suthra Punjab programme of the Punjab government died on Friday, two days after setting himself on fire in Gujranwala over an alleged dispute on unpaid wages.
The deceased, identified as Zeeshan, took the extreme step directly outside the regional programme office after a private contractor reportedly refused to pay his full monthly salary.
CCTV footage captured the worker coming out of the office and immediately dousing himself in petrol before setting himself ablaze in the corridor.
Nearby colleagues rushed to suppress the flames with water, but Zeeshan sustained critical burns to his head and chest, eventually succumbing to the injuries during medical treatment.
Reports revealed that the private contractor had been making extensive, unauthorised cuts from the employes’ officially mandated Rs 21,000 monthly salary package. Zeeshan had repeatedly complained to office staff that his children were starving, warning that he would file a formal written complaint with higher provincial authorities.
Instead of receiving the rightful wage, reports indicate that the worker was manhandled and threatened with termination by office staffers during the final visit.
The tragedy has intensified widespread anger across the province, where thousands of sanitation workers have been holding massive street protests over similar employment grievances.
