Inflation-hit govt servants seek 100% pay raise
PHOTO: REUTERS/FILE
In a swift rejoinder to the government’s latest move to unleash a fresh wave of inflation, trade union leaders and office bearers of various associations representing government employees called upon the coalition government to immediately withdraw the minibudget tabled in the National Assembly and raise their salaries by 100%.
The All Pakistan Clerks Association, All Teachers Organisations, ISCO Labor Union, and Metropolitan Corporation Labor Union rejected the move to increase petroleum prices, imposing new taxes worth Rs172 billion, increasing the interest rate by 1 per cent, general sales tax to 18 per cent and increasing the electricity and gas prices.
They said through their actions, the rulers wanted people to commit suicides, robberies, fraud and corruption.
They took the stance that if the government could not reverse its decisions, it should resign immediately and call fresh elections.
“Those who were carrying out long march against inflation in favour of the poor have made the lives of the public miserable.”
The representatives demanded that the salaries of government employees should be increased by 100% immediately, otherwise, they would take to the streets next week.
APCA Central Vice President Shehzad Kiyani said that the government should admit its complete failure instead of blaming the previous government for the rise in inflation.
“Mini budget should be withdrawn immediately as this will make it impossible for the poor to make the ends meet.”
They said the hyperinflation will increase the crime rate substantially which was not acceptable at any cost.
SES Teachers Association President Muhammad Shafiq Bhalwalia said the government was wrong in saying that it was not taxing the poor.
“Finance Minister Ishaq Dar should resign admitting his failures and salaries and pensions should be increased immediately, otherwise there will be strong backlash,” he said.
Educators Association President Basharat Iqbal Raja said the government has destroyed the economy and the mini-budget will hit the public hard.
“An increase of 500% in salaries and pension should be announced along with utility allowance,” he said.
ISCO Labor Union Central Secretary Sajjad Hussain Sajid rejected the mini-budget and said if the salary and other allowances are not increased, there will be strong protests.
Housewives, Bilqis Bibi and Faiza Anwar said housewives were directly affected by inflation as the kitchen budget has grown out of the poor’s affording capacity.
Meanwhile, Railway Workers Union Central Secretary Mubarak Hussain said the government has thrown the people under the bus and if they could not end the inflation, they should resign.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 17th, 2023.