Miftah Ismail clarifies controversy over Shehbaz's announcement of salary increase

• Ismail says since federal govt employees’ salaries were raised a couple of months ago “we are not raising them again”.
• "There is no U-turn," he writes on Twitter rejecting all allegations.
• "Salary issues will be considered in the next budget," PML-N leader says.

PML-N leader Miftah Ismail Wednesday clarified that the new government decided not to increase the salaries of federal government employees as their pay was raised a couple of months ago.

Ismail was quick to address the criticism regarding “making a U-turn” on the announcement regarding an increase in salaries of the federal government employees by Prime Minister Shehbaz Shahbaz in his first speech in the National Assembly after being elected as the premier.

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Taking to his Twitter handle, the PML-N leader said that since the federal government employees’ salaries were raised a couple of months ago “we are not raising them again”.

He, however, added that their salary issues will be considered in the next budget.

It is worth mentioning that PM Shehbaz has announced several relief measures for the people as the PTI-led government had left the country’s economy in bad condition with the current account deficit and other economic indicators “worsening”.

• The incentives and measures announced by PM Shehbaz were:
• The minimum wage will be jacked up to Rs25,000 (from April 1).
• 10% increase in pensions of retired civil, and military officials (from April 1).
• Cheap wheat to be introduced at utility stores.
• Laptop and technical education for youth.
• Reintroduction of Benazir Card.
• Appeal to industrialists to increase salaries of employees who earn up to Rs100,000 by 10%.

Read more: To address financial needs, PM Shehbaz seeks proposals from economic experts on emergency basis

A day earlier, in a press conference Ismail said the state in which Imran Khan's government had left the economy was an "injustice to the people of Pakistan" as the inflation was increasing with every passing day due to their policies.

The member of the newly elected premier's economic committee lashed out at the PTI-led government for announcing the subsidies — on fuel, electricity, and others — which, he claimed, were not maintainable.