Sindh Governor Kamran Khan Tessori has proposed a significant increase in the minimum wage for laborers to Rs. 50,000 in the upcoming provincial government budget due to the uncontrollable inflation in the country. Governor Tessori proposed this idea during a news conference at the Governor House on Monday, expressing concern over the economic situation of government staff and their families, as well as the general public, due to the excessive inflation. Previously, Labor Minister Saeed Ghani had also recommended a rise in the minimum wage, arguing that it should be at least Rs. 44,000 per month while addressing the Sindh Assembly.
Governor Tessori acknowledged that the rise in the pricing of essential goods had put middle-income families in an uncomfortable position, while low-income families had little protection against increasing prices. To alleviate these concerns, Governor Tessori expressed his intention to send a letter to the Sindh Chief Minister (CM) recommending a salary raise of 30 to 35 percent for government employees.
In addition, Governor Tessori requested a price-control authority for administrators of Sindh’s municipal agencies. He advised that shopkeepers and dealers who engaged in excessive profiteering during Ramadan face harsh penalties under the law. Governor Tessori also recommended that the government develop an entirely new food price list within the next 48 hours after visiting wholesale fruit and vegetable marketplaces.
He emphasized that the province’s fruit output has decreased due to recent floods but noted that the circumstances should not be used to offer fruits at extravagant prices.The proposed measures are aimed at helping alleviate the financial struggles of the general public due to the soaring inflation in the country.
If implemented, the increase in the minimum wage and salary raises for government employees could provide some relief to middle and low-income families who have been hit the hardest by inflation. In addition, the proposed price controls and penalties for profiteering during Ramadan could help curb the excessive pricing of essential goods during the holy month, providing some respite to the public.
However, the implementation of these measures will require collaboration between the Sindh Governor and the provincial government. It remains to be seen how the government will respond to these proposals and whether they will be incorporated into the upcoming budget. Nonetheless, these proposals are a step towards addressing the financial struggles faced by the general public in the face of the current inflation crisis.
