It is disgusting to see elected representatives concerned about their pay, perks and privileges as the nation sizzles under poverty. The latest to raise eyebrows is the approval of pay-incentives for Sindh Assembly members from Rs150,000 to Rs430,000 per month; and the same is maintainable for senior officials too.
A committee of provincial legislature was perhaps not introspective for a minute as it gave the green signal to raise salaries and perks to the tune of almost 200%. The body also approved an increase in daily allowances for lawmakers, apart from a proposal that is in the works to revise remuneration of chief minister, speaker, deputy speaker, ministers, opposition leader and parliamentary secretaries.
This is a callous, and quite cunning too, as the legislators convincingly opt for burying beneath the carpet pestering real issues of public importance. The argument that the salaries of Sindh lawmakers are lower than their counterparts in other provinces is untenable. No manufactured rationale can stand an iota of logic, especially as the province and the country reel under nature-hit calamities, and the developmental mosaic of the province has been in tatters for decades. While there are no proper education, health, housing and sanitation facilities for millions in Sindh, it is appalling to see the legislators booming on bonuses and bounties.
Our so-called representatives seem to have no mortification as they thrive on the national exchequer. The Punjab MPAs, under a spiked benchmark, are drawing a monthly salary of around Rs500,000; and the list of luxuries graduates to car, fuel and other auxiliaries. Also, this June, the federal government approved a fivefold raise in the salaries of Senate chairman and NA speaker, taking it to Rs1.3 million a month. Cabinet members, senators and MNAs too had their due share of booty as their take-home was raised up to 188%. Imagine these same legislators were at a failure to raise the minimum wage from Rs37,000 for the 76 million-strong labour force in the FY26 budget.
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