Though lawmakers from the treasury and the opposition benches remained divided on different issues in the assembly session on Tuesday, they were on the same page when they unanimously passed, an out-of-turn resolution demanding an increase in their allowances following skyrocketing prices.
The Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz’ (PML-N) woman lawmaker Rahila Khadim presented the resolution contending the allowances be increased in proportion to the inflation.
The resolution first demanded an increase of daily conveyance allowance (during the Punjab Assembly session) from Rs3,000 to Rs5,000.
Then an increase in accommodation allowance from Rs3,000 to Rs5,000 and the additional travel allowance from Rs300,000 to Rs600,000.
As the resolution was unanimously passed, Speaker Punjab Assembly Chaudhry Pervez Elahi commented that the demand of the MPAs for an increase in allowances was justified. He further directed Punjab Law Minister Basharat Raja to discuss the matter with the finance ministry and ensure an increase in allowances.
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On a point of order, Pakistan People’s Party’s (PPP) parliamentary leader Syed Hassan Murtaza protested against the non-seriousness of the government, adding he had been demanding of the government to fix a day for general discussion on the problems being faced by the masses but no one was ready to listen.
“Neither the government has any clear policy nor it has any direction. No one knows from where the policies are being constituted”, he maintained.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 24th, 2021.
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