Pakistan’s top judge makes Rs8.9 million annual salary

Law minister updates senators on salaries and allowances of top court judges.


Zahid Gishkori October 13, 2012
Pakistan’s top judge makes Rs8.9 million annual salary

ISLAMABAD:


Despite the ongoing executive-judiciary tension, Pakistan’s top judge takes home an annual salary of Rs8.9 million while his associate justices each make over Rs8.7 million per annum – after President Zardari gave his nod to a 30 per cent increase in the salaries and allowances of the superior court judges.


In the Senate’s question hour session on Friday, Law Minister Farooq H. Naek wrote a reply concerning the details of salaries and allowances of top court judges, to a question posed on the matter by Awami National Party’s (ANP) Haji Adeel.

Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry’s cumulative monthly salary and allowances amount to Rs724,321 apart from other perks and privileges.

The judges of the apex court have been receiving the revised salaries since July 2011.

President Asif Ali Zardari had approved a 30 per cent increase in the salary and allowances of superior courts’ judges this year.

According to the details produced in Senate, the Chief Justice receives a salary of Rs448,221, judicial allowances amounting to Rs196,219, a house rent of Rs68,000 if official residence is not provided and 15 per cent of the salary as a medical allowance.

He, aside from other privileges, also enjoys a chauffeur-driven car with 600 litres petrol monthly, free medical treatment for his family, a rent free residence which is maintained by the government and provisions to electricity, gas and water.

The Chief Justice’s associate judges in the Supreme Court each receives Rs8.7 million annually. A judge of the apex court receives a total of Rs754,643 per month, which includes the additional perks. Their monthly salary amounts to Rs423,414 and they enjoy the same perks as the CJ.

Chief justices of high courts, on the other hand, each make over Rs8.4 million annually while the associate judges earn Rs8.3 million annually. Judges of the high courts also enjoy perks such as a chauffeur-driven car with 500 litre of petrol.

Interestingly, Pakistan’s top court judges earn less as compared to the current earnings of the Chief Justice of US Supreme Court who receives $223,500 (around Rs21.2 million) per year, while his associate justices each make $213,900 (around Rs20.6 million).

The chief justices of high courts each receive Rs698,424 per month while judges of these courts make Rs399,447 each.

A chief justice of the high court receives a monthly salary of Rs415,424, judicial allowances of Rs156,975, a house rent of Rs65,000 and 15 per cent of overall salary as medical allowances.

Ghost Schools

During the question hour, Senate was informed that the number of ghost schools in the country has shrunk from 20,000 to around 800 only.

Minister of State for Education and Training Sardar Shahjahan Yusuf informed lawmakers about cases of financial embezzlement against four provincial directors in the basic education community schools project of the National Education Foundation. He said the investigation into these cases is under way. The ministry is further probing the ghost school issue and has referred them to NAB and FIA.

National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA)

Minister for Climate Change Rana Muhammad Farooq Saeed Khan told the House that the National Disaster Management Authority has a total staff of 136 people and none of them are rehired.

The NDMA in collaboration with United Nations Partners has extended several basic trainings in the field of disaster management to their employees, and government officials serving in remote areas of the country. He said the federal government is providing food assistance to the flood-stricken districts of Sindh.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 13th, 2012.

COMMENTS (59)

Malik | 11 years ago | Reply

The actual earning of him is through his son Arsalan

M.Sethi | 11 years ago | Reply

I completely failed to comprehend the point of this exposure! So,what if they are drawing legally this yearly amount as a salary ? Nothing amazing nor news worthy in my personal opinion.The salary is fixated and sanctioned by the President of Pakistan (only running expense of the presidency !amounts to about Rs.20 million per day) and not been demanded as such by them per force!

I am certain,there are many top media personality's,cricketers and contractually appointed Chief Executive,in the semi-autonomous government corporations,who happen to be drawing two to three fold more then them.Correct me,if I am could be wrong.But the last PIA Chief ,was heard to have been getting Rs.5 million per month and extraordinary perks alongside the salary.

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