The sudden news of an increase in the salaries of National Assembly members amidst continuous inflation and tax hikes in Pakistan has stirred unrest among the public. The approval for the salary hike for members was granted by the National Assembly speaker, setting their monthly salaries at five hundred nineteen thousand rupees each. This increase is set to take effect from January 1, 2025. Following the approval of this raise, members of the assembly will now receive revised salaries from January; however, there have been no changes made to the salaries of the speaker and deputy speaker, who will continue to receive two hundred eighteen thousand rupees monthly.
According to parliamentary sources, the formal notification of this decision will be issued soon. Senator Talal Chaudhry from the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz confirmed the salary increase, stating that the notification for the raise in National Assembly members’ salaries has been issued. He also mentioned that currently, parliamentarians in Pakistan have the lowest salaries in the region, even lower than a grade 22 officer’s pay. On the other hand, there has been strong criticism on social media from the public regarding this decision. Users have expressed concerns that while inflation is on the rise in the country, government officials are busy increasing their own salaries. Some social media users have labeled this move as a sign of the government’s lack of attention to people’s issues.
Experts point out that besides salaries, members of the assembly also receive other benefits such as travel tickets and daily allowances, which constitute a significant portion of their overall compensation. Constitutional expert Ahmad Bilal Maqbool clarified that while there has been an increase in the salaries of assembly members, it is a full-time job for them in terms of responsibilities, and they should receive appropriate compensation. The public backlash against governmental decisions raises questions about the necessity of such a substantial salary increase. Economist Saddam Hussain has presented figures related to the salary hike, indicating that a member of the National Assembly spends approximately seven lakh rupees daily, highlighting the significant increase in their salaries.
In this scenario, it remains to be seen whether the government will reconsider this decision in light of public reaction or maintain the salary increase despite the backlash.
