KARACHI: Pakistani parliament members often emulate American counterparts in many aspects, yet they fail to adopt the American approach of rarely increasing salaries, Pasban Democratic Party (PDP) Chairman Altaf Shakoor stated on Thursday.
According to a statement by Pasban Democratic Party, Shakoor highlighted that American parliamentarians have not seen a salary increase for the past 15 years and do not receive allowances for inflation. He questioned why Pakistani parliament members, from both treasury and opposition, have united to increase their salaries by 140 percent without similar consideration for minimum wage laws.
Shakoor pointed out the persistent rise in inflation and its impact on the real income of workers. He noted that the salaried class is burdened with high taxation while the elites in parliament remain indifferent to these challenges.
He remarked on the severe food inflation in Pakistan, emphasizing that many families struggle to feed their children, leading to a higher malnutrition rate compared to some African countries. He criticized elected representatives for prioritizing their salary increments over the needs of their constituents.
Shakoor called for a 140 percent increase in the salaries of government and private sector employees, as well as in minimum wages, to align with the parliament members’ pay raises. He also advocated for the revival of the ration card system to offer subsidized food to the poor, condemning the government’s closure of utility stores as harsh.
The PDP chairman commented on Pakistan’s status as a net importer of food items despite being an agricultural nation. He urged the government to invest in agricultural development through the construction of dams and canals, and the adoption of modern farming techniques.
Shakoor demanded that parliament members legislate a 140 percent salary increase for the general populace. He urged bureaucrats to reduce their expenses to allocate more funds for ordinary citizens.
He criticized the absence of advocacy for workers’ rights due to the weakening of trade unions and the dominance of elites in politics. Shakoor called for a shift in political culture to address the needs of the impoverished population.
Concluding his remarks, Shakoor urged the government and parliament members to reconsider their salary hikes and align with the American practice of maintaining steady salaries for their legislators.