Parliamentarians’ salaries and perks

It has been an established norm of political culture of the country that elected representative of the people have all along shown an oblivious attitude towards bad health of the economy and had done legislations for increasing the salaries and perks of members of National Assembly, Senate , Provincial Assemblies, ministers and Chief Ministers. Such legislation in Punjab had to be withdrawn last year when Prime Minister Imran Khan expressed displeasure over it.

Now once again parliamentarians are demanding hefty increases in their salaries and perks over which Speaker National Assembly Asad Qaisar has expressed reservations, citing the prevailing financial crisis of the country and Prime Minister’s firm resolve for observing austerity in government’s spending.

The demand for substantial increases in the salaries and perks of members of legislatures is a classic case of ignoring the deteriorated macroeconomic indicators of Rs.41.8 trillion public debts, rampant unemployment, vicious circle of poverty and shrinking economy as reflected in the declining output of agriculture and manufacturing. Common man is groaning under the burden of high prices of food commodities and highly inflated utility bills. But the peoples’ elected representatives show keen interest in increasing their salaries and perks instead of ensuring their presence in the ongoing session of parliament for doing legislations to address basic problems that are confronting masses and have made their lives miserable.