Miftah Ismail clarifies controversy over Shehbaz pay rise announcement
- Ismail says that since the salaries of federal government employees were increased a few months ago, “we will not increase them any more.”
- “There is no turning back,” he wrote on Twitter, dismissing all allegations.
- “Salary issues will be taken into account in the next budget,” said the head of PML-N.
On Wednesday, the leader of the PML-N, Miftah Ismail, clarified that the new government had decided not to increase the salaries of federal government employees because their salaries had been increased a few months ago.
Ismail was quick to respond to criticism of “turning around” on the announcement of a pay rise for federal government employees by Prime Minister Shehbaz Shahbaz in his maiden speech to the National Assembly after being elected Prime Minister.
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Taking to his Twitter account, the PML-N leader said that since the salaries of federal government employees were increased a few months ago, “we won’t be increasing them any more.”
He added, however, that their salary problems will be taken into account in the next budget.
It is to highlight that Prime Minister Shehbaz announced several relief measures for the people, as the PTI-led government had left the country’s economy in bad shape, with the current account deficit and other economic indicators “deteriorating”.
- The incentives and measures announced by Prime Minister Shehbaz were as follows:
- The minimum wage will be increased to Rs25,000 (from April 1).
- 10% increase in pensions for retired civil and military civil servants (from 1 April).
- Cheap wheat will be introduced in utility stores.
- Laptop and technical education for young people.
- Reintroduction of Benazir Card.
- Calling on industrialists to increase the salaries of employees who earn up to 100,000 rupees by 10%.
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A day earlier, at a press conference, Ismail said the state Imran Khan’s government had left the economy in was an “injustice to the people of Pakistan” as inflation was rising every day in because of their policies.
The newly elected member of the Prime Minister’s Economic Committee lambasted the PTI-led government for announcing the subsidies – on fuel, electricity and others – which he said were unsustainable.
