ISLAMABAD: The federal government has decided to significantly increase the salaries of Members of the National Assembly (MNAs) and Senators.
According to the report, the government is likely to approve a proposal to raise MNAs’ salaries by up to 200%, from the current Rs. 1.68 lakh per month. The proposal will be presented to both the National Assembly and Senate for formal approval.
The government has already consulted with coalition and opposition parties, reaching a consensus on the salary hike. In addition to MNAs and Senators, the salaries of federal ministers, advisors, and parliamentary officials, including the Speaker of the National Assembly and the Chairman of the Senate, are also expected to see a significant increase.
The proposed salary for the Speaker and Chairman could rise to Rs. 15 lakh per month.
This development follows demands from both government and opposition members for salary increases, citing rising inflation. Lawmakers argued that their current salaries are insufficient to meet the increasing cost of living, leaving them unable to sustain themselves.
Sources further revealed that the matter will be taken up by the Speaker of the National Assembly with the Prime Minister and Finance Minister. Lawmakers are demanding parity with the higher salaries of their counterparts in the Punjab and Balochistan assemblies.
This decision comes after the Punjab Assembly approved a substantial 426% salary hike for MPAs, provincial ministers, the Speaker, the Deputy Speaker, and other officials. The bill, tabled by Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Mujtaba Shujaur Rehman, faced minor objections from opposition leader Malik Ahmad Khan Bhachar but was passed with a majority vote.
