Govt to issue travel vouchers to MPs

The government is mulling over issuing vouchers to the lawmakers instead of air tickets. These vouchers will be printed by the country’s security printing press.

According to sources, the services branch of the National Assembly and the Senate Secretariat has sought details of fares from the national flag carrier, the Pakistan International Airlines (PIA).

“Each lawmaker will now be issued vouchers in view of the PIA fares and the distance of the area of residence from  the federal capital [where National Assembly and Senate sessions are held],” said an official on condition of anonymity.

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“The branch will get the vouchers printed from the security printing press once it receives details from the PIA,” he added.  At present, the branch provided 25 airline tickets to each lawmaker every year.

In addition to these tickets, the MPs also get vouchers of Rs0.3 million, an amount that they can use to buy tickets for their family members and friends accompanying them during their visit to Islamabad.

The officials said the vouchers will be more beneficial to the lawmakers as they could enchash up to 70% of the amount of the vouchers.