PESHAWAR
The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) on Friday organized a seminar titled “The Rights to a Living Wage” at the Peshawar Press Club (PPC) to highlight the growing challenges faced by working-class families amid the ongoing economic crisis.
Speakers at the event emphasized the urgent need for fair wages that reflect the rising cost of living and called on the government to adopt policies that ensure economic justice and dignity for all workers.
Speakers at the event included HRCP Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Provincial Coordinator Shahid Mahmood, HRCP KP vice Chair Akbar Khan, Advocate Hamza Jahangir, political leader Anwar Zeb, labor leader Shahid Khan, and social activist Shehla Kamran.
They emphasized that the current minimum wage is grossly insufficient to meet the basic needs of an average family, particularly in the face of rising inflation and economic uncertainty.
The speakers stated that a minimum monthly salary of at least Rs 75,000 is essential for a six-member household to live a dignified and secure life.
They highlighted the stark reality that many families are forced to choose between paying utility bills, buying basic rations, or affording their children’s school fees — a situation that reflects the growing struggles of salaried and low-income individuals.
“It has become increasingly difficult for working families to survive with dignity,” said one speaker. “If a family pays utility bills, they are unable to afford school fees, and if they buy food, they may have to forgo other basic needs.”
Participants called on both federal and provincial governments to prioritize job creation, ensure fair wages, and introduce inclusive economic policies that directly benefit ordinary citizens.
During the event, HRCP screened its documentary “Dignified Employment: Every Family’s Right,” which shed light on the daily struggles of the working class and underscored the urgent need for policy reforms to address their challenges.
The seminar concluded with a symbolic demonstration outside the PPC, where participants reiterated their demand for the government to reevaluate its financial priorities and develop inclusive economic recovery plans centered on the needs of the underprivileged.
The HRCP and participating speakers called for immediate and meaningful action to ensure that every family has access to respectable employment and the means to live with dignity.
