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A petition has been filed in the Lahore High Court seeking to raise the minimum wage in Pakistan to $1,000, which is approximately Rs. 275,000.
The petition, submitted by Advocate Fahmida Nawaz, has named the Prime Minister and all Chief Ministers as parties to the case.
In the petition, Nawaz argued that poverty is a widespread issue in Pakistan, with the current minimum wage standing at just Rs. 37,000 per month. The petition calls for the Lahore High Court to intervene and ensure the implementation of the 1950 British Labor Laws in Pakistan, which were designed to protect workers’ rights and set fair wages.
According to the petition, there are approximately 3.2 million government employees and around 70 million private-sector workers in the country, many of whom are affected by the low wage structure. Nawaz further emphasized that raising the minimum wage would not only improve the living standards of workers but also boost their purchasing power, which could have significant positive impacts on the national economy.
The petition also suggests that an increase in the purchasing power of citizens would attract global investment, potentially adding between $1,000 to $1,200 billion to Pakistan’s economy. Advocate Nawaz stressed that urgent amendments are needed in Pakistan’s labor laws to achieve this economic growth and social upliftment.
In the petition, Nawaz has requested the Lahore High Court to take immediate action to enforce the 1950 British Labor Laws in Pakistan and issue an order for the establishment of a minimum monthly salary of $1,000 in the country.
The court has yet to schedule a hearing on the petition.
