Karachi:
A committee of the Sindh Assembly gave the green light to a sharp increase in wages and advantages of provincial legislators, approving an increase of almost 200%.
The 18 -members committee, chaired by President Owais Qadir Shah, met on Wednesday and agreed to increase the monthly MPAS salary and compensation from 150,000 to 430,000 rupees.
The legislator and member of the Pakistani peoples’ party committee, Imtiaz Shaikh, told L’Express PK Press Club that the panel had examined the compensation shavings in other provincial legislatures. “It has been pointed out that the wages of the Sindh legislators are lower compared to other assemblies and had to be brought closer to these levels,” he said.
For reference, the members of the Punjab assembly are currently drawing around RS500,000 per month in wages and compensation.
In addition to the increase in wages, the Committee also approved the increase in annual allowances and daily session allowances for legislators. A separate proposal is ready to revise the salary and the advantages of the chief minister, the president, the vice-president, the ministers, the head of the opposition and the parliamentary secretaries through the legislation.
The meeting was followed by the minister of Law, Ziaul Hassan Lanjar, alongside members of the Pakistani peoples party, the Muttahida Qaumi movement, the Jamaat-E-Islami legislators and Pakistan Tehreek Insaaf. The Sindh Assembly, August 9, had adopted a bill increasing the wages and privileges of its members.
The bill was moved 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 bill on salary and compensation, which was previously erased by the provincial cabinet. The new law equalizes the privileges of AMPs – both of the government and the opposition – covering hospitality, rent for houses, public services, daily and transport allowances, accommodation, travel and mileage, telephone and medical facilities, as well as office maintenance.
The opposition head will now receive the same salary and the same advantages as a provincial minister. The presidents of the parliamentary committee will take place to use an official vehicle – with fuel and maintenance – but must return it within three days of the release of the position.
