PM Imran expresses disappointment over increase of Punjab lawmaker’s salaries

F.P. Report

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan has expressed disappointment over the increase in salaries of Punjab’s lawmakers and Chief Minister Usman Buzdar of the Punjab Assembly, on Thursday.

Prime Minister Imran Khan wrote on his Twitter account, “I am extremely disappointed by decision of Punjab Assembly to raise pays and privileges of MPAs, ministers and especially CM”.

PM added “Once prosperity returns to Pakistan such a move could be justified, but now, when we do not have resources to provide basic amenities to all our people, this is untenable”.

Earlier on Wednesday, the Punjab Assembly approved a private bill seeking raise in the salaries and privileges of Members of Provincial Assembly (MPAs) within just 24 hours. The bill was presented in the House after receiving consent from the standing committee.

Following the legislation, MPA’s salary and incentives have been increased from Rs83000 to Rs200,000 per month whereas the Punjab chief minister will draw Rs350,000 per month.

The basic salary has been raised from Rs18,000 to Rs80,000 per month, daily allowance from Rs1000 to Rs4000 per month and house rent from Rs29,000 to Rs50,000 per month.

Besides this, the bill has fixed utility allowance from Rs6000 to Rs20,000 per month and hospitality allowance from Rs10,000 to Rs20,000 per month.

The salaries of the members of the Punjab Assembly and ministers raised by the provincial assembly exceed the pays of their counterparts in all the provinces and at the federal level.

The unanimously-passed legislation was tabled by treasury’s Ghazanfar Abbas Cheema on Tuesday.