By Ghulam Mahdi Baloch
Pakistani nation is under slave in modern democratic rulers because it is an example that rulers have Rs 1.8 trillion for their defense but unfortunately they are not eligible to provide good education and get out the nation from poverty. In the history of Pakistan, the budget of defense is increasing day by day but unfortunately rulers can’t get us out from slavery of IMF.
According to the details of budget 2023-24, the Federal Government, the finance minister of Pakistan announced 32000 rupees’ minimum wage, which news can have shocked us and we should have to thankful to Mr. Ishaq Dar because he threw everything he had on the nation.
Before the Federal Government and Sindh Government’s yearly budget, the joint press conference of the National Trade Union Federation and other organizations was demanded and claimed that the workers who have become economically bankrupt are more than ten million and they workers have been pushed below the poverty line.
They demand that the minimum salary of the workers should be increased to 50,000 and non-productive expenses should be reduced by 50%. Nasir Mansoor of NTUF said that the crucial agreement with the European Union GSP plus (yearly 13 billion Euro support for the Pakistani industries especially textile and garments industry) if not revived would result in a massive joblessness which estimated around 1 million, and the revival of this agreement rests with following the conditionality’s if the deal by our government.
Mansoor said that during the last five years the real wages of workers have fallen by 65percent and the millions of workers face poverty and hunger. He further said that in 2018 the minimum wage of Pakistani workers was equal to US dollars 133 and it is now just 87 US dollars. Gul Rahman of Workers’ Rights Movement said the growing price hike, especially the highest food inflation in the history of Pakistan, has compelled millions of worker families to live a miserable life.
The price hike rate in the country is 50 percent which is also the highest in the history of this country and Pakistan has even left Sri Lanka behind in chances of default. He said due to sharp inflation there is no purchasing power left with workers. Zehra Khan of HBWWF said that the past and present rulers have adopted wrong policies to put brakes to the production process. The growth rate would likely to go in minus territory. Workers are being forcefully sacked from factories. Presently there are more than 2.25 Crore jobless people in Pakistan, about 8.5percent of the national population. In coming six months one million more workers are likely to be sacked.
There is no relief expected for theses jobless workers in budget. The earnings of the people of Pakistan are spent on costly foreign loans and their interest, defense expenses and expenditures of the federal government and nothing is left for the welfare of people. She further said the killer debt trap has affected this nation dangerously. On Other side, if you see the budget of Federal and Provincial government of Sindh there is no relief for private job persons.
Federal government and Sindh government announced percentage of government employees between 30 to 40 and the minimum wage is increased just some thousands of rupees from old figure. Both governments could not increase the minimum wage above 35 thousand; however Trade Union and other organizations demanded to increase minimum wage round about 50 thousand.
If, we think that the yearly budget is beneficial for local citizens than it will the biggest lie to the Pakistani nation because the rates of different things are higher than last 5 years but the salaries are increased just 30 to 35 percent. It means Government failed to give relief the poor people but passed to won the hearts of Government’s high rank officials and business communities. I can’t define here in this column the whole figure of budget that why I’m talking about facts that the inflation from last 5 years is increased about 50 above of the percentage but budget was not beneficial for poor people.
If Govt. has announced a minimum salary of a person Rs. 32000 it means 1 thousand per day. Now, every unmathematical person can calculate his expense and forced to decide that “how can I survive from this payment”. Just liter petrol for a bike is one quarter of a note of 1 thousand and a cup of tea is Rs. 100. It means a labor goes to work for his family and earn 1 thousand per day than he’ll fly 1 half of his per day wage? So is this possible to survive a labor in this wage and eat two times of meal? I was surprised when news channels were breaking their news that “The government gave great relief and increased the salaries, etc” but it really hurts that no anyone is serious about the matter of non-government employees and unemployed persons.
Millions of peoples are unemployed in Pakistan and many families are living under open sky however many people are depressed from inflation but government is announcing the relief of government employees and business class people. I just say one thing only that government should have to give relief to the non-governmental employees and unemployed people. Actually, no anyone from poor people is ready to accept this budget.
