The National Assembly Standing Committee on Overseas Pakistanis has expressed serious concern over the failure to implement revised minimum daily wage rates for workers of the Overseas Pakistanis Foundation (OPF), despite the federal government’s announcement during the Federal Budget 2026-27. The committee questioned why a public-sector organisation had not applied the approved wage increase several months after it was announced in June 2026. The matter was discussed during a meeting chaired by Syed Rafiullah, who criticised the delay and called for timely implementation of government decisions affecting low-income workers.
During the meeting, the committee chairman asked why the Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development had not ensured that OPF workers received the revised minimum daily wages. He pointed out that private-sector employers were required to follow the government’s minimum wage announcement, while a public-sector institution was still waiting to complete its internal approval process four months later. The chairman said the delay raised questions about the treatment of lower-paid employees, particularly when government officers received increases in salaries and benefits without comparable delays.
Federal Secretary for Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development Nadeem Aslam Chaudhry informed the committee that the revised daily wage rates would be approved by the ministry’s Board under the prescribed procedure. He said a Board meeting would be arranged to consider the matter. Responding to the explanation, Syed Rafiullah questioned why workers had to wait for a Board meeting and subsequent approval to receive a wage increase already announced by the federal government. He contrasted the delay with the immediate implementation of salary, privilege and benefit increases for senior officers in grades 20 to 22.
The federal secretary subsequently assured the committee that a resolution would be placed before the ministry’s Board at its next meeting, expected within the coming few days. He added that once the resolution was approved, a separate Board approval would not be required for future implementation of such increases. The committee, however, expressed reservations about the explanations provided regarding the delayed payment of minimum wages. It recommended that all boards and organisations operating under the ministry establish clear rules or a formal mechanism to ensure that revised minimum wage rates are implemented as soon as the federal government announces an increase.
The committee’s recommendation was aimed at preventing administrative procedures from delaying wage adjustments for workers. A consistent implementation mechanism could also help ensure that public-sector organisations follow government wage decisions without requiring repeated interventions. The discussion highlighted the importance of making minimum wage announcements effective in practice, particularly for employees whose earnings are directly affected by changes in the government’s wage policy.
Beyond the OPF wage issue, the committee discussed working conditions and financial protection for mine workers and their families. It emphasised the need for improved salary packages, associated benefits and stronger workplace safety arrangements. The committee recommended stricter enforcement of safety standards, better workplace safety management and the provision of appropriate protective equipment to reduce the risk of accidents in mining operations. It stressed that employers and relevant authorities must take practical steps to protect workers and prevent avoidable loss of life.
The committee also reviewed the coal mine incident at Sorrange in Balochistan. During the briefing, members were informed that three inspectors from the Mines Department and two officials from the Labour Department of the Balochistan government had been suspended in connection with the incident. First Information Reports had been registered, while show-cause notices were issued to the companies concerned. The committee was further informed that 34 cheques had been handed over to the Deputy Commissioner for distribution among affected families.
After reviewing the information, the committee recommended that provincial governments and Gilgit-Baltistan increase financial assistance for workers affected by such incidents to Rs3 million. The proposal seeks to strengthen financial support for families facing the consequences of workplace fatalities and serious mining accidents. The committee’s discussion also underlined the need for safety enforcement and accountability alongside compensation, as financial assistance alone cannot address the risks faced by workers in hazardous occupations.
The committee also sought details of the investment portfolios and interest income of all departments operating under the Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development. In addition, it recommended that the Workers Welfare Fund provide complete information about every proposal submitted to its Board during future meetings. These requests indicate the committee’s interest in reviewing the financial management and decision-making processes of organisations working under the ministry, including the handling of investments and welfare-related resources.
Several legislative matters were also considered during the meeting. The committee deferred the Employees’ Old-Age Benefits (Amendment) Bill, 2026, the Industrial Relations (Amendment) Bill, 2026, and the Emigration (Amendment) Bill, 2026. Its review of recommendations concerning the Bureau of Emigration and Overseas Employment was also deferred. The matters will therefore require further consideration before the committee can proceed with its review.
The meeting was attended by Members of the National Assembly Zulfiqar Ali Bhatti, Dr Mahreen Razzaq Bhutto, Fateh Ullah Khan, Mohammad Ilyas Choudhary, Sofia Saeed Shah, who participated virtually, Saeeda Jamshid, Mian Khan Bugti, Farhan Chishti and Erum Hamid. Federal Minister for Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development Chaudhry Salik Hussain also attended, along with the ministry’s secretary and senior officials. Representatives from the Employees’ Old-Age Benefits Institution, OPF, Ministry of Law and Justice, and the Labour and Mines Departments of the Balochistan government were also present.
The committee’s deliberations covered wage implementation, workers’ welfare, occupational safety, compensation for affected families and oversight of public-sector organisations. Its recommendation for a permanent mechanism to apply minimum wage increases is particularly relevant to OPF employees, who remain affected by the delay in implementing the federal government’s 2026-27 budget announcement. The ministry’s Board is expected to consider the proposed resolution at its next meeting, while the committee has called for stronger and more consistent protections for workers across the organisations and sectors under review.
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