PTBP Web Desk
The National Assembly Finance Committee has approved a proposal to increase the salaries of Members of the National Assembly (MNAs) and senators, raising their monthly pay to Rs519,000. The recommendations have been forwarded to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif by Speaker Ayaz Sadiq for final approval.
The Finance Committee approved the proposal to align the salaries and allowances of MNAs and senators with those of federal secretaries. Currently, a federal secretary’s monthly salary and allowances amount to Rs519,000 after deductions. The proposal suggests fixing the monthly salary and benefits of lawmakers at the same level.
The salaries of the Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly will remain unchanged at Rs218,000 per month. This is because the Finance Committee does not have jurisdiction over their pay.
The move to increase lawmakers’ salaries comes after demands from major political parties, including the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N). According to sources, 67 PTI lawmakers from the opposition submitted written requests advocating for a salary hike.
The PPP and PML-N were particularly vocal in their demand to increase the salaries of MNAs to match those of federal secretaries. Once approved, parliamentarians will not only receive higher salaries but also enjoy benefits equivalent to those of a federal secretary.
The salary increase, the Finance Committee has proposed extending federal secretary-level benefits and facilities to parliamentarians. Currently, the monthly salary and benefits of lawmakers amount to Rs218,000, which is significantly lower than the proposed Rs519,000.
The proposal aims to ensure that lawmakers are compensated fairly for their roles and responsibilities. It also seeks to bring parity between the salaries of lawmakers and senior government officials.
The push for a salary hike comes amid rising inflation and the increasing cost of living in Pakistan. Lawmakers argue that their current salaries are insufficient to meet their expenses, especially given the demands of their constituencies.
Aligning their salaries with those of federal secretaries is seen as a way to attract qualified individuals to public service and ensure that lawmakers can perform their duties effectively.
With the Finance Committee’s approval, the proposal has been forwarded to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif for final approval. If approved, the new salary structure will come into effect immediately, benefiting all MNAs and senators.
The move is expected to face scrutiny from the public, particularly in light of the country’s economic challenges. Critics argue that increasing lawmakers’ salaries at a time when many Pakistanis are struggling to make ends meet may not be well-received.
