PPP’ slams government over “economic vulgarity” and elitist policies

Liaquat Ali

Islamabad: Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) senior leader Chaudhry Manzoor Ahmed launched a scathing critique of the federal government in a press conference on Wednesday, decrying the recent salary increases for top officials as a sign of deep-rooted elitism and “economic vulgarity.”

Chaudhry Manzoor took aim at Defence Minister’s recent remarks labeling salary hikes for the Speaker and Chairman as “financial obscenity,” arguing that the problem extends far beyond just two individuals.

“It’s not just the Speaker and Chairman — the entire ruling elite, from cabinet members and parliamentarians to the judiciary, has seen unjustified salary increases,” he said.

Meanwhile, he lamented, the country’s farmers continue to suffer, and the World Bank itself has sounded alarms over Pakistan’s rising poverty levels.

“On one hand, there are unjustified raises for the elite. On the other, farmers are in distress, and over 100 million people are living below the poverty line, according to the 2018 census,” Manzoor stated.

He condemned the government’s decision to discontinue pensions after 10 years, calling it “an extremely cruel and inhumane step.”

Referring to the widening inequality, the PPP leader said that while salaries in many elite sectors have been raised by over 200 percent, workers are told that any wage hike must align strictly with inflation rates.

“Minimum wage has been set at Rs. 37,000, but electricity bills alone consume most of it. Where is the poor supposed to go?” he asked.

Manzoor claimed that Rs. 6.2 trillion had been wasted due to the government’s poor decisions and questioned which segment of society was actually benefiting from these policies.

He further highlighted that five of the country’s major crops — including cotton, rice, and maize — are currently underperforming.

“When agricultural production is declining, how can you claim the sector is progressing? You are deliberately ruining agriculture just to ensure cheap labor migrates from rural areas to cities,” he alleged.

Manzoor reiterated PPP’s demand for a 50 percent salary increase for workers, criticizing the government’s failure to prioritize the public over the privileged.