Karachi:
A Committee of the Sindh Assembly has given green light to a considerable increase in salaries and advantages of provincial legislators, approving an increase of almost 200 percent.
The 18 -members committee, chaired by President Owais Qadir Shah, met Wednesday and agreed to collect the monthly salary and monthly assignments of the existing RS150,000 at RS430,000.
The legislator and member of the Committee of the Peoples Party of Pakistan, Imtiaz Shaikh, told the Express PAkGazette that the panel had reviewed the compensation packages in other provincial legislatures. “It was pointed out that the salaries of Sindh legislators are lower compared to other assemblies and should approach those levels,” he said.
As a reference, the members of the Punjab assembly currently attract around RS500,000 per month in salaries and assignments.
In addition to the salary increase, the Committee also approved increases in annual assignments and daily session assignments for legislators. A separate proposal is being prepared to review the wages and advantages of the Prime Minister, President, Vice President, Ministers, opposition leader and parliamentary secretaries through the legislation.
The meeting was attended by Law Minister Ziaul Hassan Lanjar, together with members of the Popular Party of Pakistan, the Muttahida Qaumi Movement, Jamaat-E-Islami and Pakistan Tehreek Insaaf supported. The Sindh Assembly on August 9 had approved a bill increasing the wages and privileges of its members.
The bill was transferred by the Minister of Law and Parliamentary Affairs Ziaul Hassan Lanjar during a session chaired by President Syed Awais Qadir Shah. The Chamber unanimously approved the Salary Law and Assignments bill, which was previously eliminated by the provincial cabinet. The new law equals the privileges for the MPA, both of the government and the opposition, which cover hospitality, housing rentals, public services, daily assignments and transport, accommodation, trips and mileage, telephone and medical facilities, as well as maintenance of the office.
The opposition leader will now receive the same salary and advantages as a provincial minister. The presidents of the parliamentary committee will have the right to use an official vehicle, with fuel and maintenance, but must return it within three days after vacation of the position.
