PM Takes Notice of Rs1.3 Million Salary for Parliamentary Leaders
News Desk
Islamabad: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has taken notice of a staggering increase in the salaries of the Senate chairman and the National Assembly speaker, directing both officeholders to submit detailed reports on the matter, sources confirmed on Thursday.
The development follows the issuance of a controversial notification by the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs, dated May 29, which sanctioned a massive raise in the monthly remuneration of the two presiding officers—from Rs205,000 to Rs1.3 million.
This represents a 534 per cent increase in basic salary. In addition, both will be entitled to a 50 per cent temporary allowance on top of the revised salary. The new pay structure is set to come into effect from January 1, 2025.
According to insiders, the prime minister’s final decision will be made after reviewing the reports submitted by the Senate chairman and NA speaker.
The latest hike has intensified public scrutiny over recent increases in salaries across the federal legislature and cabinet. In March, the government quietly approved a summary to amend the Federal Ministers and Ministers of State (Salaries and Allowances) Act, 1975, leading to significant raises for federal ministers, ministers of state, and advisers.
Following these amendments, the monthly salary of federal ministers rose from Rs200,000 to Rs519,000 — a jump of over 159 per cent. Ministers of state also received identical salary revisions, with their pay increasing from Rs180,000 to Rs519,000.
Earlier this year, the Finance Committee of the National Assembly had also approved salary hikes for MNAs and senators, raising their monthly pay to Rs519,000 — a 143 per cent increase from their earlier packages.
The successive salary increases have triggered criticism from economists and civil society organisations, who questioned the rationale and timing of such decisions amid ongoing economic challenges. With no official justification offered, observers warn the cumulative impact of these raises could exert additional pressure on the already strained national exchequer.
