AT the post-budget press conference, the federal finance minister actually defended the extraordinary increase in the salaries of parliamentarians and ministers, which in some cases has been reported to be as high as over 500 per cent. To call the budget an exercise in austerity and then increase the income manifold of people already in the elite class is mind-boggling.

To publicly defend the increase is the limit of audacity. The decision is an act of political immaturity. The defence of the decision is a serious insult to public consciousness.

The national economy is under severe pressure, and every Pakistani — I mean, every ordinary, non-elite Pakistani — is worried about inflation, electricity, fuel and food. The burden of indirect taxes introduced under the budget also falls on the same class that is already suffering from these backbreaking conditions.

In this context, the recent increase in the salaries of parliamentarians is a grave injustice, and reflects badly on the rather tragic sense of government priorities.

The minister’s claim that the budget estimates are ‘accurate’ has done nothing to calm the nerves of the people — yes, the ordinary, non-elite people of the country. When there is no increase in agricultural production, no increase in industrial activities, and no sign of any immediate foreign investment on the ground, all official estimates and boastful claims mean nothing, but a statistical mumbo-jumbo to hide the truth; that nothing is going to be right in the hands of a government that has muddled priorities.

The government has announced no minimum wage for the workers, arguing that the industrialists — part of the elite, pampered class — were not willing to pay. Going by the same logic, there should be no taxes because people are not willing to pay them either. The government still has time to make amends till the budget gets passed by parliament. If it wants, it can make the budget people-friendly instead of passing the current document which is a financial gift for the privileged.

Name withheld on request
Karachi

Published in Dawn, June 15th, 2025