Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar on Saturday announced a raise in workers' minimum wage by Rs2000 on the occasion of Labour Day. The decision was taken by Usman Buzdar in a meeting held at the CM office on the provision of relief to labourers.

The Punjab government decided to raise the minimum wage to Rs20,000 from the existing Rs18,000. While addressing the meeting, Buzdar said the welfare of labourers and workers is his government’s top priority.

Over the past three years, he said, the PTI government has gradually increased the minimum wage by Rs5,000 and would continue to do so in the future as well. The chief minister added that the current government has increased marriage grant for workers from Rs100,000 to Rs200,000 and death grant from Rs500,000 to Rs600,000.

Buzdar added the Punjab government has allocated 7.25 billion for marriage/death grants and talent scholarship for the social welfare of workers in the last 2 and a half years. He said the government has also decided to build 4 social security hospitals.

The chief minister said that flats had also been allotted to the working class in the labour colonies of Lahore, Nankana Sahib and Multan. And the government will continue working on new schemes and colonies to ensure easy access to housing for the labourers.

“Transparent allotment of 992 flats has been made in Labour Housing Colony, Multan,” he added.