The Finance Committee has approved a significant increase in the salaries of Members of the National Assembly (MNAs) and senators, raising their monthly earnings to Rs519,000. The revised salaries will be implemented from January 1, 2025.
However, the salaries of the National Assembly speaker and deputy speaker will remain unchanged, as the Finance Committee lacks the authority to alter their pay structure. They will continue receiving Rs218,000 per month, as confirmed by the Speaker’s Office.
Last week, a proposal recommending that lawmakers’ salaries and benefits be aligned with those of a federal secretary was presented to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. Following the National Assembly Finance Committee’s approval, Speaker Ayaz Sadiq forwarded the proposal to the prime minister. The recommendation set the monthly salary and allowances of MNAs and senators at Rs519,000.
Currently, after deductions, a federal secretary receives a salary and allowances totaling Rs519,000 per month.
Parliamentary sources disclosed that an earlier demand to increase lawmakers’ salaries to Rs1 million per month was rejected by Speaker Ayaz Sadiq. The move to establish parity between lawmakers and high-ranking federal officials was reportedly backed by Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), and other parties.
Additionally, 67 opposition lawmakers from Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) submitted written requests advocating for a salary increase. The finance committee further recommended that parliamentarians receive benefits and privileges equivalent to those of a federal secretary. At present, the monthly salary and allowances of lawmakers stand at Rs218,000.
