A petition has been filed in the Lahore High Court (LHC) demanding an increase in Pakistan’s minimum wage to US$1,000 per month.
The petition, submitted by Advocate Fahim Nawaz, names both the federal and provincial governments as respondents. The advocate argued that Pakistan’s labor laws are based on outdated colonial-era regulations and should now align with international standards, similar to those of the United States and the United Kingdom.
Currently, the minimum wage in Pakistan stands at Rs 37,000. The petition proposes raising it to US$1,000, which is approximately Rs 278,700. This would represent a significant increase, aimed at improving the living standards of workers across the country.
The petitioner has requested the suspension of the current minimum wage notification and urged the court to implement this drastic wage adjustment. He emphasized that such a move would not only modernize labor laws but also bring greater economic stability for workers struggling with inflation and rising living costs.
The petition is now awaiting the court’s response. If accepted, this change would mark a major shift in Pakistan’s labor policy and could influence discussions on wages and workers’ rights nationwide. However, such a proposal may face challenges regarding its feasibility and impact on the economy.
