Lawmakers’ Salaries Increased to Rs519,000: Finance Committee Approves Hike

Salaries Increased

In a significant development, the Finance Committee has approved a salary increase for Members of the National Assembly (MNAs) and Senators, raising their monthly pay to Rs519,000. This hike will officially take effect from January 1, 2025.

However, despite the increase for lawmakers, the salaries of the Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly will remain unchanged. According to the Speaker’s Office, they will continue to receive Rs218,000 per month, as the Finance Committee lacks the authority to revise their pay.

Background: Proposal for Salary Increase

Last week, a proposal was put forward recommending that the salaries and benefits of lawmakers be aligned with those of a federal secretary. The proposal suggested that MNAs and senators should receive a fixed monthly salary of Rs519,000, including allowances and benefits.

Following this, the National Assembly’s Finance Committee approved the proposal, after which Speaker Ayaz Sadiq forwarded the recommendations to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif for final approval.

This decision comes in light of growing demands from lawmakers across multiple political parties, who argued that their salaries should match those of high-ranking federal officials.

Previous Salary Demands and Justifications

Parliamentary sources revealed that earlier demands to raise lawmakers’ salaries to Rs1 million per month were rejected by Speaker Ayaz Sadiq. However, political parties, including:

  • Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP)
  • Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N)
  • Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and other opposition members

all supported the idea of aligning parliamentary salaries with those of federal secretaries.

Interestingly, 67 PTI lawmakers formally submitted written requests advocating for a salary hike, reinforcing the push for this increase.

Current Salary Structure & Comparison with Federal Secretaries

Before this approved raise, lawmakers in Pakistan received a salary of Rs218,000 per month. This amount included various allowances but was considerably lower than the salary of a federal secretary.

Currently, after tax deductions, a federal secretary’s monthly salary and allowances amount to Rs519,000. This discrepancy led to growing demands for salary parity between lawmakers and high-ranking government officials.

Key Highlights of the Salary Increase

New Salary: MNAs and Senators will now earn Rs519,000 per month.
Effective Date: The salary increase will be implemented from January 1, 2025.
Speaker & Deputy Speaker Exemption: Their salaries will remain Rs218,000 due to Finance Committee limitations.
Federal Secretary-Level Benefits: The Finance Committee has also proposed additional perks and facilities similar to those enjoyed by federal secretaries.

Public Reaction and Criticism

The decision to increase lawmakers’ salaries has sparked mixed reactions from the public, with many questioning whether parliamentarians should receive such a significant raise amid Pakistan’s ongoing economic crisis.

Critics argue that:

  • Pakistan is facing a severe financial crunch, and public sector salaries should be carefully reviewed.
  • Lawmakers already receive numerous perks, including travel allowances, security, and other privileges.
  • Increasing salaries at a time when inflation is high and the general public is struggling may send the wrong message.

On the other hand, supporters of the decision argue that:

  • Lawmakers must be paid fairly to prevent corruption and financial dependence on external sources.
  • The demand for salary parity with federal secretaries is justified, as both positions require high-level decision-making and governance responsibilities.

With the Finance Committee’s approval, the next step is for the Prime Minister to review and endorse the proposal. Given the political and public scrutiny surrounding this decision, further discussions may arise before final implementation in 2025.

Regardless of the debate, this move marks a major shift in parliamentary compensation policies, setting a new benchmark for lawmakers’ salaries in Pakistan.