AJK marks Labour Day with rallies, tributes across region

Like the rest of the world, Azad Jammu and Kashmir is set to observe International Labour Day on May 1 with renewed commitment to workers’ rights and welfare

MIRPUR, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 30th Apr, 2026) Like the rest of the world, Azad Jammu and Kashmir is set to observe International Labour Day on May 1 with renewed commitment to workers’ rights and welfare. The day commemorates the sacrifices of labourers who lost their lives during the historic Haymarket affair in Chicago 138 years ago. Across the region, workers will pay tribute to those who fought for fair working conditions and dignity.

Labour organisations have finalised a series of programmes, including rallies, processions and seminars, to mark the occasion with enthusiasm. Events will be held in all ten districts and key tehsil headquarters such as Mirpur, Muzaffarabad, Kotli, Bagh, Rawalakot, Sudhanoti and Bhimber. A spokesperson said the programmes aim to highlight workers’ contributions and raise awareness about their rights and opportunities.

In Mirpur, the main procession will begin near Quaid-e-Azam International cricket Stadium and pass through major roads before culminating in a central rally. Trade union leaders and representatives of various labour organisations, including the AJK PWD Workers Union, will address participants, shedding light on the historical significance of May Day and reaffirming solidarity with workers worldwide.

Meanwhile, reports from Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir indicate that workers are also planning to observe Labour Day despite strict restrictions. Labour groups have vowed to hold rallies and processions, defying prohibitory measures, to honour the legacy of workers and continue their struggle for basic rights and freedoms.

APP/ahr/378