KARACHI: The Sindh High Court has ruled in favor of dozens of house job doctors who waited years for their unpaid COVID Allowance.
The Constitutional Bench issued the order during a hearing concerning the non-payment of allowances to doctors who worked during the COVID-19 pandemic.
According to court proceedings, 92 house job doctors from Abbasi Shaheed Hospital filed the petition. The doctors argued that authorities failed to pay the promised allowance despite an official notification.
During the hearing, lawyer Jibran Nasir represented the petitioners. He told the court that officials announced a monthly COVID Allowance of Rs24,000 during the pandemic.
However, the doctors never received the additional payment. As a result, many healthcare workers continued to wait for compensation years after serving on the front lines.
The lawyer further explained that house job doctors received a monthly salary of Rs45,000. After adding the COVID Allowance, their monthly income should have reached Rs69,000.
Nevertheless, authorities did not release the funds. Consequently, the doctors remained deprived of the promised financial support.
The petitioners informed the court that all 92 doctors served at Abbasi Shaheed Hospital during a critical period for Pakistan’s healthcare system. Therefore, they requested judicial intervention.
Meanwhile, the Sindh government presented its position before the court. Government lawyers argued that Abbasi Shaheed Hospital operates under the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation.
Therefore, they claimed that the provincial government had no direct responsibility in the matter.
In addition, the legal representative for the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation asked the court to dismiss the petition. The lawyer challenged the doctors’ claims.
However, the court reviewed the available record and heard arguments from all parties. After examining the case, the bench decided in favor of the petitioners.
As a result, the court ordered the relevant authorities to release the pending COVID Allowance payments.
The decision brings relief to doctors who worked during one of the most challenging periods in recent history. Moreover, the ruling recognizes the contribution of healthcare professionals who served patients during the pandemic.
Many medical professionals have welcomed the judgment. They believe the order will help ensure timely payments in similar cases.
For now, the affected doctors await the implementation of the court’s directive. Meanwhile, the ruling marks an important victory in the long-running COVID Allowance dispute.
