PML-N govt goes back on Shehbaz's announcement of salary increase

Since salaries were raised a couple of months ago, government is not raising them again, says ex-finance minister

In an apparent "U-turn" from Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's announcement of an increase in salaries of government employees, former finance minister and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz's senior leader Miftah Ismail on Wednesday said since the salaries were raised a couple of months ago, the government is not raising them again.

In his maiden address as prime minister on the floor of the National Assembly, PM Shehbaz had announced an increase in salaries, pensions and the minimum wage for labourers.

Read more: PM Shehbaz calls urgent meeting with leading economists

He said the PTI-led government left the country’s economy in tatters with the current account deficit and other economic indicators “worsening”.

He announced raising the minimum wage to Rs25,000 and a 10% hike in pensions of retired government employees. Government employees earning less than Rs100,000 would also be given a 10% raise, he added.

"Since fed[eral] govt employees’ salaries were raised a couple of months ago, we are not raising them again," Miftah wrote on his official Twitter handle, stating that it was not a "U-turn".

There is no U-turn. Since fed govt employees’ salaries were raised a couple of months ago, we are not raising them again. However their salary issues will be considered in the next budget. Meanwhile we raised pensions of retired govt employees. I hope this clarifies any confusion https://t.co/3V84EFufCm

— Miftah Ismail (@MiftahIsmail) April 13, 2022

Miftah, however, said that the salary issues will be considered in the next budget. "Meanwhile we raised pensions of retired govt employees. I hope this clarifies any confusion," he added.

Also read: Miftah berates PTI regime for ‘destroying’ economy

On Tuesday, Miftah Ismail said that the country’s economy was badly “damaged” during the tenure of the PTI-led government which he said piled the public debt to the level of Rs6,400 billion.

Addressing a press conference along with other PML-N leaders Musadik Malik and Muhammad Zubair in Islamabad, Ismail accused the previous PTI government of making the lives of the masses miserable through “flawed” economic policies.

He said, the fiscal deficit was hovering at around Rs5,600 billion and if supplementary grants of Rs800 billion were included, the total amount would reach Rs6,400. The PML-N leader elaborated how the illogical decisions by the previous government had resulted in increasing overall debt.