LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has directed the authorities concerned to ensure the enforcement of the minimum monthly wage across the province.
She issued the directives while chairing a special meeting, which approved key welfare projects for labourers.
Punjab Labour Minister Faisal Ayub Khokhar and other officials attended the meeting.
Maryam Nawaz ordered that workers across Punjab must be paid a minimum monthly wage of Rs37,000.
She also sought a comprehensive plan from the labour minister for establishing labour colonies throughout the province.
The chief minister issued directives for improving social security hospitals and the establishment of wellness centres for pre-screening in Lahore, Rawalpindi and Islamabad.
The meeting approved the construction of a 200-bed Rehmat-ul-Alameen Cardiology Centre on Lahore’s Defence Road and a 50-bed social security hospital in Rahim Yar Khan.
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Maryam Nawaz also issued directives for amending labour laws to further the welfare of workers.
“Laborers are the friends of Allah, and we cannot displease them. We are committed to making Punjab a model province for the labours’ welfare,” she said.
Earlier addressing the joint session of parliament at the start of the parliamentary year, President Asif Ali Zardari said that the common man, labourers and the salaried class were facing severe economic hardships in Pakistan.
The government should take steps in the next budget to increase salaries and pensions, reduce income tax on the salaried class, and lower energy costs,” he said.
He stressed the need to avoid job cuts and instead focus on job creation and utilizing a trained workforce.