Minimum Wage Hike Fails to Match Rising Cost of Living: Rana Shamshad

Lahore: Pakistan Milli Labour Federation (PMLF) President Rana Shamshad has strongly criticised the federal government’s decision to increase the minimum gross salary of civil employees from Rs37,000 to Rs40,700, describing the Rs3,700 increase as inadequate in view of the rising cost of living.
He said a monthly income of Rs40,700 was insufficient for a family to meet even its basic needs amid rapidly rising prices. The increase, he added, would provide little relief to workers already struggling with severe economic pressure.
Rana Shamshad said continued increases in the prices of flour, petrol, vegetables, fruits and public transport had sharply reduced the purchasing power of low-income workers, daily wagers and salaried employees. Higher fuel prices had also pushed up the cost of transportation and essential commodities, while vegetables and fruits were often being sold above official rates, exposing the weaknesses of the price-control system.
He said the government’s economic policies appeared increasingly tilted towards privileged sections of society, while workers were being left to face inflation and financial hardship. The disparity between rising privileges for the ruling elite and limited wage increases for employees was unacceptable, he added.
The PMLF president demanded that the minimum monthly wage for workers be raised to Rs80,000 and that salaries and pensions of public and private sector employees be revised in line with inflation.
He urged the government to take immediate measures to address rising poverty, unemployment, declining public services and poor governance, warning that failure to provide meaningful relief could further deepen economic and social instability.