ISLAMABAD: The PPP demanded on Monday a minimum 50 per cent increase in the salaries of government employees and a 100pc raise in pensions under Employees Old-Age Benefit Institution (EOBI) scheme, a day before the federal budget`s presentation.

The party also urged the government to raise the national minimum wage from Rs37,000 to Rs50,000.

PPP`s Labour Bureau Head Chaudhry Manzoor Ahmed announced that PPP will participate in a protest rally organ-ised by government employees ahead of Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb`s budget speech on Tuesday.

Citing a World Bank report, Mr Ahmed said that 44pc of the population is living below the poverty line and called for better health facilities for industrial workers and an increase in their death and marriage grants. He also urged the government to merge ad hoc relief with the basic pay of government employees and to withdraw measures announced as pension reforms.-Staff Reporter