PPP Pushes Govt to Raise Employee Salary Hike to 10pc

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Peoples Party has urged the federal government to increase the proposed salary raise for public-sector employees from 7 percent to 10 percent, bringing a key budget relief demand into the centre of the National Assembly debate on Friday.

The demand was raised by former prime minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf, who argued that the current proposal does not match the financial pressure faced by government employees, pensioners and households struggling with rising living costs. His remarks turned the salary issue into one of the most closely watched public-facing elements of the ongoing budget discussion.

According to the PPP position, a 7 percent increase would offer only limited support to employees whose purchasing power has been weakened by inflation, utility expenses and higher everyday costs. The party wants the government to revise the pay raise upward so that public workers receive what it considers a more meaningful adjustment.

Raja Pervaiz Ashraf told the National Assembly that government employees, pensioners and people linked to agriculture are directly affected by federal budget choices. He also pointed out that businesses can often adjust prices when inflation rises, but ordinary consumers and salaried households ultimately carry much of the burden.

The PPP leader said the party had supported much larger salary and pension increases in earlier periods and argued that relief for fixed-income groups should remain a priority. His statement signals that coalition partners and parliamentary allies may continue pressing the government for changes before the budget process is completed.

The issue is politically sensitive because public-sector pay decisions influence millions of families, including federal employees, pensioners and lower-grade workers whose monthly budgets are tightly linked to food, transport, rent, healthcare and education expenses. Even a small change in the salary increase can shape public perception of whether the budget is relief-oriented or austerity-driven.

The debate also comes at a time when the government is trying to balance fiscal discipline with political pressure for public relief. Salary and pension increases add to recurring expenditure, but lawmakers frequently argue that failure to protect fixed-income households can worsen hardship and weaken public confidence in economic policy.

For Pakistan’s broader economy, the demand reflects a familiar budget challenge: how to support vulnerable and salaried segments without widening fiscal pressures. Public employees often become a benchmark for wage expectations across other sectors, while pension decisions affect retired citizens who have fewer options to absorb price shocks.

The government has not yet announced whether it will accept the PPP’s recommendation. The matter is expected to remain under discussion as lawmakers review budget proposals, with employee groups and pensioners likely to watch closely for any revision before the final approval stage.