Pakistan Sets New Minimum Wage at Rs32,000, a Significant Boost for Workers’ Rights

• Punjab increases minimum wage, providing relief to workers amid rising inflation.
• Rising inflation hits low- and middle-income consumers hard in Pakistan, with an unprecedented price hike of 46.65% annually.
• Asif Ali Zardari, former president of the Pakistan People’s Party, proposes increasing the minimum wage to Rs35,000 and urges the government to provide relief to workers.

That’s great news for the workers in Punjab! The minimum wage increase will help them cope with rising inflation and improve their standard of living. 

It’s good to see that the government is taking steps to address the issue of low wages and is working towards providing better conditions for workers in the province. This move will be an example for other provinces to follow and help improve the country’s overall economic situation.

The rising inflation in Pakistan has affected the country’s low- and middle-income consumers. 

According to the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics, the weekly inflation reached 46.65% annually during the previous week, which is an unprecedented price hike. 

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The Consumer Price Index (CPI) has also more than doubled since March last year, when it was recorded at 12.7% and reached 31.5% last month, which has badly affected the salaried class who rely on a fixed income.

Asif Ali Zardari, former president and co-chairperson of the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), proposed on Jan 31, 2023, that the coalition government should raise the minimum wage to Rs35,000. 

Zardari stated that the decision regarding fixing workers’ salaries should be made at the government level and that it is the government’s responsibility to provide relief to the workers.