ISLAMABAD – With the federal budget 2025–26 in the spotlight, the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) has reignited the debate on economic justice, calling for the minimum monthly wage to be fixed at Rs 75,000—a figure it deems necessary for a six-member household to afford basic needs in today’s inflation-hit economy.
In its latest position paper titled “From Survival to Dignity: The Case for a Living Wage,” HRCP condemned the current wage structure as outdated and unrealistic. The existing minimum wage, which stands at Rs 37,000 nationwide (and Rs 40,000 in Punjab and KP), fails to match the cost of living for the vast majority of workers.
Speaking at a media briefing in Lahore, economist Dr. Fahd Ali pointed out that nearly 88% of Pakistanis earn below Rs 75,000, while around 45% remain below the poverty line. HRCP leaders argued that wage stagnation is contributing to a cycle of economic hardship, social inequality, and widespread exclusion.
HRCP Secretary-General Harris Khalique was particularly critical of the government’s priorities. “It’s shameful that while public representatives secure steep pay hikes, ordinary workers are left to make impossible choices between food, healthcare, education, and shelter,” he said.
The commission also took aim at the underfunding of social sectors, noting that health receives just 0.96% of GDP, education 1.06%, and social protection only 1.1%—far below international and regional standards.
Tying its demands to global development goals, HRCP reaffirmed that a living wage is not a privilege—it’s a right. Without bold action, the gap between policy and people will only widen, leaving millions struggling for dignity and survival.
This story has been reported by PakTribune. All rights reserved.