In the Sindh Assembly on Friday, an opposition member strongly criticized Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah for delivering his budget speech in English instead of Urdu. This occurred during the presentation of the annual budget, a significant event where the chief minister outlines the government’s financial plans and priorities.
The controversy began when CM Murad started his speech in English, which immediately drew the ire of opposition members. They found the use of English inappropriate and intervened to express their disapproval. Despite their objections and calls for the speech to be delivered in Urdu, the chief minister continued in English, leading to heightened tensions within the assembly.
The opposition’s protest against the use of English was firmly dismissed by the speaker, who overruled their objection and allowed the chief minister to proceed in the language of his choice. This decision did not sit well with the opposition, but it did not deter CM Murad from continuing his address.
Amidst this linguistic controversy, a key highlight of the budget speech was the announcement of a substantial increase in salaries. The chief minister revealed that there would be a significant pay raise ranging from 22% to 30%, marking a major financial commitment in the new budget. This announcement was a critical aspect of the budget, reflecting the government’s effort to address economic concerns and improve the livelihood of public sector employees.
The incident underscored ongoing debates about language use in official settings in Pakistan and highlighted the tensions between tradition and modernity in governmental proceedings.
