ISLAMABAD (PEN) : It seems like both the Sindh and Punjab governments are focusing on increasing salaries for public sector employees in their respective budgets for the fiscal year 2024-25. In Sindh, Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah, also the Finance Minister, is set to present the budget with a proposed 30 percent increase in salaries for public sector employees and a significant allocation of Rs 163 billion for the Sindh police.
On the other hand, Punjab Finance Minister Mian Mujtuba Shujaur Rehman has presented a tax-free budget with a total outlay of Rs 5.44 trillion for the fiscal year 2024-25. This budget includes a surplus of Rs 630 billion and focuses on launching 77 new mega projects under the annual development program. The Punjab government also proposes a raise of up to 25 percent in employees’ salaries and a 15 percent increase in pension for retired employees. Additionally, they have proposed a minimum wage of Rs 37,000 for workers.
Both budgets seem to aim at improving the financial well-being of employees and investing in development projects. It will be interesting to see how these proposals unfold and contribute to the respective provinces’ growth and welfare.