Teachers, clerks reject federal budget

The All Pakistan Clerks Association (APCA), teachers' organisations, and the Education Pensioners Association have rejected the 2026-27 federal budget, terming it a continuation of the economic exploitation of government employees and pensioners.

In a joint statement, teachers' leaders said soaring inflation, rising petroleum prices, unaffordable gas and electricity bills, and the continuous increase in the prices of essential commodities had made life extremely difficult for employees and pensioners.

They said the proposed salary increase of only 7 to 10 per cent was not only inadequate but amounted to adding insult to injury for the affected classes.

The leaders noted that while the ruling elite had increased their own salaries, perks, and official benefits by 600 to 900 per cent over the past three years, millions of government employees, teachers, and pensioners across the country had been given only a nominal increase. They described this as a clear example of double standards and economic injustice.