I RECENTLY met a woman teacher who is employed at a private school. During our conversation, I came to know that she receives a monthly salary of Rs10,000 only.

A science graduate, with some five years in the profession, she added that except for a few colleagues, all other teachers in the school were denied salaries during summer vacations on one plea or the other. I wondered how the family she was supporting could survive on such a meagre amount.

The government has fixed the minimum monthly salary of Rs13,000 even for an unskilled worker. It was shocking to know that builders of the new generation were being placed at a much lower tier economically than unskilled and uneducated workers.

Government leaders proudly claim and insist that the minimum wages in Pakistan were much more than in neighbouring countries.

M. Siddiqui

Islamabad

Published in Dawn, September 3rd, 2015

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