Islamabad: Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb on Monday revealed that there was no proposal under consideration to increase the salary and pension of federal government employees in the coming financial year.
In a written response to the National Assembly, the Finance Minister said: “There is no plan to revise the scales of employees’ allowances or payments.”
However, he said that the government is reviewing the roof and border for roof and housing allowances.
Aurangzeb commented, answering a question by MNA Malik Mohammad Aamir Dogar.
In addition, the Ministry of Commerce presented the details of the trade deficit in the last five years in the National Assembly. According to official documents, Pakistan recorded a $ 154 billion trade deficit between 2019 and 2024.
During this period, the country’s exports were $ 136 billion, while imports were $ 291 billion. The document holds the increase in imports primarily for economic development.
Annual trade deficit data shows that Pakistan’s deficit was $ 23.16 billion in the financial year 2020, increased by $ 31.08 billion in 2021 and increased to $ 48.35 billion in 2022.
Then the deficit increased to $ 27.47 billion in 2023 and $ 24.11 billion in 2024.
Additionally, the financial year 2025 saw a 60% increase in imports of solar panels, transformers and power transmission equipment. The total import of power transmission devices reached $ 319 million.
Meanwhile, industrial machinery imports increased by 20%, textile machinery 40%and auto parts 58%.
This development took place a month after development as a large number of government employees across the country, a protest was staged outside Parliament, demanding salaries, pension protection and privatization of government institutions.
Under the banner of Grand Alliance of all government employees, the protesters urged the government to take immediate steps to address their financial difficulties amidst sky rocket inflation.
Last year, the government announced an increase in the salary of government employees by 25% in the budget of the financial year 2024-25.
He had also announced to increase the minimum wage from the current rupee to Rs 36,000 per month.
