The National Assembly Standing Committee on Overseas Pakistanis has expressed serious concern that minimum daily wage rates for Overseas Pakistanis Foundation (OPF) workers—approved by Parliament in the Federal Budget 2026-27—have still not been put into effect.
Committee Chairman Syed Rafiullah asked why the Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development had not applied the rates announced by the federal government during the June 2026 budget session. He noted that private employers were expected to follow the announcement, yet a public-sector body had not done so after roughly four months.
Board approval promised within days
Federal Secretary Nadeem Aslam Chaudhry told the committee that, under existing procedure, the ministry’s board must approve the federal minimum daily wage rates. He said a board meeting would be convened for that purpose.
Rafiullah contrasted how quickly higher officers act when their own pay rises with the wait forced on lower-paid staff. “Officers in grades 20 to 22 instantly implement government announcements regarding increases in their salaries, perks and privileges, but they are not ready to implement the same for poor workers. The poor workers have to wait for a Board meeting and its subsequent approval,” he said.
Responding, Chaudhry said a resolution would be approved at the board’s next meeting within the coming few days. Once that resolution was in place, he added, future wage revisions would not need fresh board approval each time.
The committee recorded reservations about the replies on minimum-wage payment and recommended that every board and organisation under the ministry adopt rules so a revised minimum wage is paid as soon as the federal government announces an increase.
Sorrange mine case and worker protection
Members also stressed better pay, benefits and financial protection for mine workers and their families, and called for stronger workplace safety management, strict compliance with safety standards, and protective equipment to prevent accidents.
Reviewing the coal mine incident at Sorrange in Balochistan, the committee was told that the provincial Mines Department had suspended three inspectors and the Labour Department two officials. First Information Reports had been registered, show-cause notices issued to the companies concerned, and 34 cheques handed to the deputy commissioner for affected families.
The panel recommended that all provinces and Gilgit-Baltistan raise financial grants for workers hit by such incidents to Rs3 million.
It further sought full details of the investment portfolio and interest income of departments under the ministry, and asked the Workers Welfare Fund to place details of every proposal before its board at future meetings.
Bills deferred; who attended
The committee deferred the Employees’ Old-Age Benefits (Amendment) Bill, 2026, the Industrial Relations (Amendment) Bill, 2026, and the Emigration (Amendment) Bill, 2026, along with its review of recommendations on the Bureau of Emigration and Overseas Employment.
Federal Minister for Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development Chaudhry Salik Hussain attended, with MNAs including Zulfiqar Ali Bhatti, Dr Mahreen Razzaq Bhutto, Fateh Ullah Khan, Mohammad Ilyas Choudhary, Sofia Saeed Shah (virtually), Saeeda Jamshid, Mian Khan Bugti, Farhan Chishti and Erum Hamid, plus officials from the ministry, EOBI (Employees’ Old-Age Benefits Institution), OPF, the Law ministry, and Balochistan’s labour and mines departments.
Timeline: what has happened so far
- June 2026: The federal government announces minimum daily wage rates in the budget session; Parliament approves them in Federal Budget 2026-27.
- About four months later: OPF has still not implemented the revised rates for its workers.
- Committee meeting (2026): Syed Rafiullah presses the ministry over the delay; Secretary Nadeem Aslam Chaudhry says board approval is required.
- Coming few days (as stated at the meeting): The ministry board is expected to pass a resolution so the rates can take effect, and to ease future revisions.
- Same meeting: Members review the Sorrange coal mine response and recommend Rs3 million grants for workers affected by such incidents.
Aasan alfaaz mein
OPF ke mazdooron ko budget mein jo minimum daily wage mili thi, woh abhi tak nahi mil rahi. Budget June 2026 mein announce hua tha, lekin roughly char mahine guzar gaye. Assembly committee ne ministry se sawal kiye, aur secretary ne kaha ke board kuch dinon mein approval de dega. Mine accidents ke mutasireen ke liye committee ne provinces se Rs3 million tak madad barhane ki sifarish ki.
