TIMES REPORT
PESHAWAR: Hayatabad Industrialists Association President Faisal Kakakhel has urged the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government to fix the province’s minimum wage at the same level as Sindh, warning against any increase beyond it.
In a press release, Kakakhel said Sindh currently has the highest minimum wage in Pakistan, while even Islamabad’s minimum wage is lower. He argued that setting a higher wage in KP would be impractical given the province’s difficult industrial environment.
He said industries in KP are facing serious challenges, including security concerns, rising energy costs, expensive raw materials, limited business opportunities, and declining exports and border trade with Afghanistan and Central Asian countries. Higher transportation costs for raw materials have also increased production expenses, he added.
Kakakhel warned that fixing the minimum wage above Sindh’s level could force industries to reduce production, lay off workers, or shut down altogether, leading to higher unemployment, reduced investment, and further economic decline.
He emphasized that industrialists support fair wages and workers’ welfare but stressed that wage decisions should reflect the province’s economic realities and industrial capacity.
He appealed to the Chief Minister, provincial cabinet, and Labour Department to set KP’s minimum wage at par with Sindh and adopt a realistic industrial policy to protect jobs, encourage investment, and support the manufacturing sector.
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