Murad Ali Shah increases his own salary by 300%

Salaries of MPAs have doubled effective July, 2016

KARACHI: Raises, bonuses and increments are on every salaried individual’s mind, including sitting members of the provincial assembly and the chief minister, apparently. They, however, have the power to increase their salaries, while the average person does not.

The chief minister approved on Saturday a 300% increase in his own salary. Salary, allowances, perks, and privileges of each lawmaker of the Sindh Assembly have also jumped from Rs72,600 to Rs145,000 per month. The increase will be effective from July 1, 2016.

“Earlier the chief minister used to draw Rs35,000, which has now been increased to Rs150,000. The house rent and maintenance allowance now stand at Rs140,000,” official sources told The Express Tribune.

The decision came after the provincial assembly recently approved a bill for the increase in the salaries of members of the provincial assembly. Despite the passage of bill, it was not implemented as the summary was pending for the approval of the chief minister. After its approval, the lawmakers will get all the dues of last 15 months.

 



Parliamentary Minister Nisar Ahmed Khuhro defended the government’s decision when the bill was passed in May, 2017, saying, “The decision is being made in view of the skyrocketing prices of commodities.” He said the last time their salaries were increased was in 2013, adding that they deserve the raise.

According to official documents available with The Express Tribune, the salary of the speaker of the assembly has been increased from Rs80,000 to Rs150,000. Meanwhile, Rs140,000 rent and maintenance allowance has been fixed for the speaker’s house. The deputy speaker will now get a Rs140,000 salary instead of Rs70,000, with a Rs55,000 house rent allowance.

The salaries of ministers and advisers have been increased from Rs30,000 to Rs75,000, excluding allowances. Ministers and advisers are entitled to Rs55,000 house rent, Rs50,000 house maintenance and 500 litres of fuel allowance.

The government has also approved a staggering increase of up to 50% in the basic salary of each MPA.



“Earlier, each MPA would get Rs24,000 basic salary, which has now been increased to Rs50,000,” an official said, adding that with total allowances, each member of the assembly will draw around Rs145,000 per month.

The salary of the parliamentary secretary, a post which has been given to a few MPAs, has been increased from Rs10,000 to Rs60,000. Each parliamentary secretary will be entitled to a Rs45,000 house rent and Rs30,000 house maintenance allowance as well as Rs20,000 for utilities and 400 litres of fuel.

Since the decision to increase salaries and allowances was delayed, the Sindh Assembly secretary moved a summary to the chief minister a few days ago, referring to the assembly bill about salaries. “The assembly secretariat has been facing a shortfall, therefore it is requested that an additional amount of Rs666, 257,600 be released for the payment of salaries, allowances of the speaker, deputy speaker and members of the provincial assembly,” read the summary.



Not so fast

Soon after reports of the raises surfaced, Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leaders took to social media to clarify that the chief minister had delayed implementation of the raise after party co-chairperson Asif Ali Zardari took notice of it. “Zardari Sahib has directed the chief minister not to implement this due to the prevailing economic situation,” said Farhatullah Babar, a PPP leader. He added that the decision would be implemented from the next fiscal year.

However, Babar was the only one to announce the delay as there was no official confirmation from Chief Minister House or any other government official issued.