Qaumi Watan Party (QWP) lawmaker Anisa Zeb Tahirkheli opposed the bills and pointed out that the government needs to give the house three days’ notice before passing a bill. PHOTO: FILE
The Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) Assembly on Friday passed a law to increase salaries along with other perks and privileges of the speaker, deputy speaker, ministers and members.
The three amendment bills moved by Adviser for Law and Parliamentary Affairs Arif Yousaf did not make it to the day’s agenda, rather, were distributed as additional agenda later. Qaumi Watan Party (QWP) lawmaker Anisa Zeb Tahirkheli opposed the bills and pointed out that the government needs to give the house three days’ notice before passing a bill.
However, Tahirkheli was the lone voice to oppose the law in the house. Later, QWP lawmakers staged a walkout after speakers did not allow Tahirkheli to speak. Still, the bills were passed with a majority.
Amendments to K-P Salaries and Allowances of the Members Act 1974 have significantly increased salaries and other perks for the members, speaker, deputy speaker and ministers.
The new raise has increased lawmakers’ salaries from Rs12,000 to Rs 18,000, and their sumptuary allowance from Rs5,000 to Rs10,000.
Similarly, the travelling allowance of members has been increased from Rs3 per kilometer to Rs15, while members will get Rs120,000 for in-country travel instead of Rs40,000.
An amendment to the first proviso of Section 7 substituted Rs500 for phone charges with Rs1,000 while the utility allowance has been increased from Rs3,000 to Rs 4,800.
Three new sub-sections – D, E and F – have been inserted after Section 7C, providing members with house rents, conveyance allowance and increase in salary and other emoluments.
Section 7D says an MPA shall be entitled to a house rent allowance at the rate of Rs30,000 per month, while under 7E, a member will be entitled to receive conveyance allowance at the rate of Rs640 per diem for the period of residence.
Furthermore, members will be entitled to receive medical allowance at the rate of Rs9,000 per month.
Salaries of ministers have gone up from Rs21,000 to Rs40,000 while the sumptuary allowance has been increased from Rs18,000 to Rs35,000. A new insertion in the law also entitles ministers to a discretionary grant of Rs300,000 annually.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 7th, 2014.
COMMENTS (3)
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ
1725612926-0/Tribune-Pic-(8)1725612926-0-165x106.webp "article")
Does anyone really think that a minister who can pocket Rs. 40000 an hour would care about it as a monthly salary? Those that are corrupt would still be that way if the pay is a 100 folds while those that are not, it does not matter. The discretionary funds seem to be something PTI has been against, bit of a uturn i suppose.
As far as my little understanding is concerned, it's one good move I suppose. A good move in the sense that it will help diminish the corruption made by Ministers or MPAs, either directly or by using their power influence. Keeping in view, how intense the corruption problem is, Govt is right indeed to provide them with pay raise and additional incentives in shape of perks and privileges in order to refrain them from indulging into any kind of filthy activity.
This should not be a big news. Either you increase salaries and allowances or let them get kick backs from contractors. If you want common people to be elected as MPA and MNA, and work for people then you should pay them handsomely so that they don't worry how to feed their families. If you keep them on low salaries, either you discourage common people to be MPA and MNA or you encourage corruption.