LHC Proposes Fixing Minimum Wage at US$1,000 

Lahore, A petition has been filed in the Lahore High Court (LHC) seeking the fixation of Pakistan’s minimum wage at US$1,000 (approximately Rs 278,700) per month, a significant increase from the current minimum wage of Rs 37,000. The petition, submitted by Advocate Fahim Nawaz, names both the federal and provincial governments as respondents.

In the petition, the lawyer argued that Pakistan, despite being a former British colony, continues to operate under many laws originally established during the colonial era. He pointed out that countries like the United States and the United Kingdom have set their minimum wages at US$1,000 and suggested that Pakistan adopt similar labour laws to ensure a fair standard of living for its workers.

The petitioner requested the court to direct the federal and provincial governments to implement labour laws similar to those in the United States and the United Kingdom, including the setting of the minimum wage at US$1,000 per month. According to the petitioner, this adjustment would bring the minimum wage in line with international standards and would provide workers with a more livable income.

Currently, Pakistan’s minimum wage stands at Rs 37,000 per month, a sum that many argue is insufficient to cover basic living expenses in today’s economic climate. The petition calls for the court to order the federal and provincial governments to revise the current minimum wage structure and suspend the notification regarding the existing rate until the new wage is implemented.