Punjab govt to withdraw MPA travel allowance

MPAs will no longer be entitled to encash travel tickets to and from constituencies during every assembly session.

LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif said on Friday that the travelling expenses of Punjab Assembly members will be withdrawn.

Talking to reporters in Lahore, Sharif said the government is withdrawing this facility and now the assembly members will have to pay for travelling expenses from their own pockets.

According to the rules currently in place, assembly members are entitled to encash their travel tickets to and from their constituencies during every assembly session - an amount that runs into millions of rupees. Sharif announced that this expenditure should be curtailed.

This proposed cut is likely to draw a reaction from assembly members.

The rules pertaining to the perks and privileges of assembly members will have to be changed for the purpose.