ISLAMABAD: Parliamentarians on Thursday proposed an exponential increase in salaries and perks 'commensurate with their status', bringing their wages to par with those of BS-22 officers, with a monthly allowance of at least Rs470,000.
The set of recommendations presented in the National Assembly (NA) by Acting Chairman of the Standing Committee on Rules of Procedure and Privileges Chaudhry Mehmood Bashir Virk was unanimously adopted as a motion by parliamentarians.
Here's the breakup of a lawmaker's proposed average monthly allowance:
Salary: Rs200,000
Transport: Rs50,000
Utilities: Rs50,000
Constituency: Rs70,000
Office maintenance: Rs100,000
Total minimum monthly allowance: Rs470,000
Yearly allowance for travel: Rs300,000 (in encashed vouchers in lieu of 30 business class return plane tickets. Variable allowance not accounted for.)
IT allowance: Rs300,000 (for use over a parliamentarian's tenure.)
Note: Medical allowance has no cap
The raise demanded by Senators and MNAs marks a massive increase, as the current monthly remuneration, including benefits stands at around Rs80,000
Salaries of lawmakers

The standing committee recommended a new basic salary of Rs200,000 for all MNAs and senators ─ up from the current amount of Rs36,000.
The proposed salaries for the NA Speaker and Senate Chairman are Rs400,000 each while those of the Deputy Speaker and Deputy Chairman are Rs350,000.
Transport allowance

According to the report presented in the NA, lawmakers are currently provided the following amounts per day when on duty:
- Rs2,000 daily allowance
- Rs2,000 conveyance per day
- Rs3,000 housing allowance
However, lawmakers are only eligible to withdraw daily and conveyance allowance when they arrive at or depart from a place of duty. Housing allowance is applicable for each day during any period of residence on duty, according to the Members of Parliament (Salaries and Allowances) Act 1974.
An additional Rs50,000 per month has been proposed as transport allowance, and the recommended per kilometre rate for road travel is now Rs20/km from Rs10/km.
In the recommendations, the number of business class return air tickets has also been increased from 20 to 30 per annum. These tickets can be converted in favour of family members.
Travel vouchers provided to parliamentarians can also be encashed for up to Rs300,000.
Other perks

A monthly utilities allowance, set at Rs50,000, has been introduced in the recommendations.
A monthly constituency allowance of up to Rs70,000 has also been proposed for first the time, intended as a miscellaneous fund that lawmakers may dip into for works in their constituencies.
The monthly office maintenance allowance has been raised from Rs8,000 to Rs100,000 in the proposal.
What is currently a Rs10,000 monthly telephone allowance was scrapped altogether in the recommendations in favour of a Rs300,000 fund for IT installations, which may only be used once per tenure (five years for MNAs and six years for senators).
Medical allowance for lawmakers is provided on an admissible basis and has no specified cap or maximum limit.
A document acquired by DawnNews says members of the Pakistan Institute of Parliamentary Services Committee observed that salaries and allowances of MNAs and Senators were on the "lower side" and "did not commensurate with their status".
The proposed amendments to salaries and perks of parliamentarians were put forth keeping in view that even members of the Balochistan provincial assembly earn higher wages than federal lawmakers.
The adopted motion was forwarded to the NA House Business Committee from where, if recommended, it will be forwarded to the Finance Division and then the Ministry of Finance. If there are no objections towards the proposed amendments, the changes will be adopted in the upcoming budget for Parliament.
Comments (102) Closed
Who is there to stop them?
It shall definitely promote transparency in contract awards and other development works, that are often started by taking 20% of the contract value as Kick-back. I personally feel that increased salary shall help to curtail corruption.
The people in need of an increase in salary are the ones who are working at lower posts in government not these these guys, thats pmln for u, how can they even consider raising salaries of these already rich mps when it is clear that that low grade govt employees are paid peanuts
and the saga continues
We expect that after getting massive salary-hike, the MNAs and Senators shall not resort to corruption.
Political system in Pakistan has been adding financial onus to the national budget, we have seen the output(Performance) is equal to zero whilst the input (perks) are in millions.
Wah. What a country?
A nice plan to share the country's money legally.
Charity begins at home. Well done to look after the most underprivileged and vulnerable section of our society.
As most of it is spent on poor people as they visit in huge number in MNA houses hence it should be Tax Free . Good Initiative!
This is grossly insensitive to the current economic situation, and in the context of poverty level,minimum to say is obscene. I am feeling insulted, furious and being cheated by my employees I sent in the parliament to serve me and my other fellow citizens
It should be according to the seniority level of the member. The current salary of Rs.36K is too low and Rs. 200K seems reasonable. However, business class tickets should not be provided to everyone except Speaker and cabinet members. A medical insurance needs to be available at premium to the members for which they should be getting a salary deduction. Overall, I advocate a competitive salary and perks for every citizen of Pakistan without any bias.
They have no shame at all. More than half the population can barely make their ends meet and they want more. I believe salaries should based on performance bases in which case non will qualify.
"salaries and allowances of MNAs and Senators were on the "lower side" and "did not commensurate with their status". Do they care for or are sensitive to their 'obligation', 'duties' and 'responsibilities' or are they only concerned about their 'status'? What they have done for well being of general public? A better way would have been pro-rate their salaries according to their attendance and quality of participation in the law making process; not simply showing hands occasionally in line with the party masters' wishes. Otherwise in the light of plight of general public, this kind of 'status' related raises are 'obscene' and amount to naked exploitation. Those political parties who champion real 'change' should have opposed instead of accepting this excess.
Lust and Greed has no boundaries.
What have these lawmakers done to deserve this raise. When are people going to realize that these lawmakers are there for their own benefit. They need to be fired.
If PM Nawaz wants them to go easy on him... then it should be fairly easy for him to grant them this and more!
It would certainly help poor MNAs from JI and MQM !
@Mansha Sherazi
There is no limit to corruption money. Recently a Bureaucrat in Baluchistan had 7.3 Million stashed in his house. Even with a salary of 400k he would have still been tempted.
I think it's good approach. We should expect some decrease in curroption and kickback.
Definitely 36k per month is nothing nowadays compared to inflation
For Rs 0.5 million what does an average tax-payer get in return? Zilch, or very little!
This is becoming a government of day-light robbers!
What about the common man
what a shame This is the poor country's rich parliamentarians. A country who is still begging infront of IMF fo funds, A country who is moving towards privatization of Government resource, A country who id literally begging for donations every year. What a shame
Why 0.5 million? Why not just a cool Rs. 1 million per month?
Next year, you can all ask for a Mercedes Benz too.
And I bet, half of these MNAs could not even earn Rs. 0.01 million a month, in any 'regular' job, sans an authentic college degree.
Shame... a poor country where many don't eat a decent meal per day... total loss with reality.
My comments are simple: Unacceptable.
It looks like they are inspired by Aam Aadmi Party from india :)
If allowance is decided on the base of participation of these law maker in the parliament, then most of them will go empty handed.
Shouldn't there be a performance criteria as well - you achieve the performance targets and you get a pay rise - no performance, no reward
The set of recommendations presented in the National Assembly (NA) by Acting Chairman of the Standing Committee on Rules of Procedure and Privileges Chaudhry Mehmood Bashir Virk was unanimously adopted as a motion by parliamentarians.
hence proved that all parties and all members r petty thieves and consider themselves as some super humans
If let's say these proposal's are considered legitimate,while these parliamentarians will do some legislative credible work to improve comman-mans life.
Otherwise Defense services&all ranks deserve 100% increase in their pay,pension and allowance as they are the once's who are doing the real work in fighting the war on terror & for keeping the sovereign Pakistan safe against it's archenemies.
Do we have comman-sense in our society at all or are we all without any brains in all walks of life other than Armed Forces Personnel who are sacrificing their lives for these knuckle cracking members of the parliament.
They have done nothing in last few decades in so called democratic governments other than harming the civil society.
Just look at the type of governance we have in Pakistan, corrupt, and just corrupt Minister's and top of the notch current Prime Minister has broken all the records of corruption as compared to all others in the history of Pakistan.
Let it go Mr. Nawaz Sharif.
it would be unanimously passed. This is where we find the opposition and the treasury to be on the same page. None of Parliamentarian would talk about the poverty in Pakistan.
Let us make another pakistan and give them and they do politics there. They are not worth to be in this pakistan. What good have they given to the genral public than fights and stupid speeches??
Wow!!!
This nation is willingly looted by the lawmakers.
@Mansha Sherazi Absolutely not tenable. This huge increase in salaries will be on top of Development Funds, and every one in this country know what these development funds mean - take your share. Most of our parliamentarians in fact work as local Councillors, and they are not even aware of their real responsibilities as legislators.
@Mansha Sherazi Absolutely not correct. This massive increase in salary and perks will be a bonus on top of development funds - real means of corrupt practices.
I think, its reasonable and we should not expect parliamentarians to earn from their positions and corruption. I believe its a practical and logical. Those who criticize and complain would always do so....The system should be workable and it is one step towards that.
Let's make the parliamentarians richer than before.
Nawaz Sharif will gladly approve this to calm them down to avoid Panama leak issue.
Increasing salary can be one of the reform to tackle corruption.
Parliamentarians demanding increase in salary and perks is obscene, if not evil? All this when the nation is in a state of war requiring sacrifice from all. The practice of giving billions to parliamentarians in the name of "development funds" should stop. This is where corruption starts, as most of it goes in the pockets of these politicians. In no other democracy such funds are given to MNAs. Instead, these funds should be given to the local governments, for the welfare of the people and they would be directly accountable for it. Parliamentarians should focus on good legislation and honest governance.
Can any one from India inform the readers about the perks of MPs there.
Now this is where we should all send a message that all these allowances should be taken away. They should be just given rs 75,000. basic pay and that's it. No more travelling up and down there home town's. Chowdrey Bashir Virik should be fired for proposing that. This is real corruption.
I'm almost certain, most of these MNAs either become Millionaires or Billionairs soon after they win the seat.. The life of luxury, without doing any hard slogging! Desk-thumping is the only exertion they know. Some are even seen napping during the session, playing games on their phones or texting their friends and family..
Only in Pakistan.
It is also reported that each Palimentarian is entitled 2 cars and 6 personal staff i.e. PA, drivers, cook etc etc. This is besides the new package which is proposed.
They will get it, one way or another.
@Waseem Parliamentarians and other civil servants are government employees, not mine or yours. Even if they are my employees, I don't have a right to see them lower than me.
@Mansha Sherazi Same promises were made nearly 13 years ago by same MNAs and Senators. and the Musharraf led Govt. allowed 35% increase in their salaries. Now ask yourself how much corruption and loot has been curtailed since then?
First taxes should be reasonable and enforced to all, but it doesn't going to happen as too many crooks don't want to educate people. All are hand in glove and wants to loot country instead of serving poor citizens who survive on 1/10th or less of the money they get. Corruption is global but rampant in poor & undeveloped countries. Rich do not want to pay fair share of taxes, so they bribe Babus & politicians. Both parties are well aware of it as written in link below. http://www.dawn.com/news/1259170/dollars-and-sense
In the Pakistan where people are no food for eating, doing suicide, selling their children and organs because of poverty and these rich politicians want high salaries and perks. They have proved it now that they don't care about the poor nation.
@ali Excellent suggestion about salaries & perks being performance-based. After all, they are employees of the tax-paying public. However, who will define 'performance', though we know their duties and election promises?
and what you all did or doing in the house? empty speeches no legislation to benefit common men but for your salaries you are hyper
I just crunched some numbers to better depict the business class allowance
Return ticket Isl - Khi - minimim 260,000 rupees + x 30 =7.8 million rupees.
Now if our dear parliamenterians decided to travel international routes I can factor an additional cost of 10 to 20 times.
What these lawmakers do for the country for claiming such a huge compensation?? They have not done anything for betterment of poor people rather they put the poorp nation in a very disgusting conditions. No electricity, no water, no gas, roads and streets are destroyed and these lawmakers could not make laws to improve living conditions of poor people. Why they are asking for their benefits? I urge government to have think for poor people rather for itself.
These may be the best paying jobs in all of Pakistan.
Considering the fact, no formal qualifications are required, no exams to pass, not much to do except occasional applause. Hours are great, perks are excellent and you get special travel privileges. And even if you don't show up in the Parliament for days or weeks, no one's going to reprimand you and you can't be fired - put monthly pay check and allowances are guaranteed!
What!! From 80k to 400k. Do they need this at all? I think only teachers deserve such increase in their pay, also in their BPS ( BPS for teachers should start from BPS-16), after all they are nation builders.
As far as salaries of parliamentarians is concern, it is in people's interest to keep it on par with executives pay to avoid corruption. Highly professional people must get paid at least as much as a good lawyer. Rs. 400 to 600 thousand is fair in today's economy! It is more important to demand work ethics and character to serve their constituencies. There has to be high level of demand in their service to people. How do you do that? Writing and approving the Job description is a start. They are servants of the people and not bosses of a corporation must be made clear to them every time they take the oath of office! It sounds simple and we assume that it is already done, but power of the office gets to them as soon as they are in office, therefore, a watchdog is a must which they do not accept. Even good politicians oppose the laws to monitor them.
Parliamentarians do not even deserve what are they getting now. If I had the power I will even cut their current salaries in half unless they produce some productive results for the nation not for themselves. Poor people will not cross the poverty line ever if we continue to see corrupt politicians in power.
"India paid Rs 176 crore to its 543 Lok Sabha members in salaries and expenses over the last year, or just over Rs. 2.7 lakh a month per Member of Parliament (MP), new official data show." 67.58 Indian Rs=one US$. Indian Rs is 1.55 Pakistan Rupees.
The present package is on the low side. The proposed package is over the top. Perhaps they should be pegged to joint secretary/major general pay grade?
Salaries and allowances of all parliamentarians, state servants and state functionaries (up to President of Pakistan) should be approved by people of Pakistan through a national plebiscite. It is not religiously, morally & ethically correct for these functionaries to be able to increase their own salaries themselves....state servants and parliamentarians and there for the service of Pakistanis and they need to operate accordingly...
They dnt deserve increase. All the MNAs and MPAs are already rich enough. If a person can spend 10 to 15 millions in election compaigns thn these pitty increase is awful for them. I request the PM to set an increase for lower grades who really serve nt disguise the nation.
A salary of 60,000 to 70,000 for an MNA is too less. However, PTI MNA's and especially IK should not get any increase because they hardly go to the national assembly.
Disgusting - they have fallen to a new low.
I would like any one of them to say "hands on their heart" that they deserve this hike.
In any job, one has performance indicators to enable their employers to see how well an employee is doing. Can these parliamentarians face their employers (general public) and tell them how well they have performed their duties? Surely not!!!
this is a good time to black mail and demand that raise as government is already embroiled in corruption controversy.
Salaries are paid according to performance . The whole country knows their performance which is zero. Ask them how many laws/rules/bills/regulations they have made in the last few years.
what good they have done until now ?.... why raise ?. rather, their salaries should be brought at par with a laborer working in sunshine.... of course without perks.
My question to the Parliament Members of Pakistan is this: What is your worth in work market. My guess is that for running your mouth whole day and doing nothing else, current salary is more than enough. If not happy get out and make room for some other public servant. Senator Joseph Biden ( now VP of USA ) used to ride train daily to & from work every day and has done for thirty five years and also carried his brief case. Most of the members even do not read the documents they sign on, let alone understand their legislative duties.
The irony is that half of them don't attend the parliament if they should get a pay rise Than have to attend all the Secessions
They should study salaries and benefits of lawmakers from Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and india and then come up with comparable numbers
It should be based on their performance and how many hours they put in i.e attend NA and other services they put there for.Also are they serving the constituency for which they are elected/posted . Are they worth that much for theirs services to the nation?
Also make change that the medical facilities are free only within the country. Within a year Pakistan will have the best hospitals in the World.
they should be set a pay grade on the line of other government employees, instead of going for over the top pay and expenses. They should be brought down to a pay grade and dont have to re invent the wheel.
a grade 17 for NA assemblies and 18 for senetors should be enough given that many are illiterate and incompetent.
These shameless thugs want their salary raise for doing what? Is the bribe they take not enough? They think that Pakistan is their private property and loot it as much as you can. They should be reminded that a good majority of Pakistanis live below poverty level.
Laws made by them for them and have them......
I think our legislators deserve the proposed salary. A blanket salary applies to all MNAs and we should remember not all MNAs are from the treasury benches, nor rich, nor corrupt. However, this matter shoudn't be attached to the performance of the MNA's. The voters are free to not vote for public representatives that don't perform.
@Shahid The party you're referring to is in opposition. Which means they use their private vehicles, and resources to attend to their constituencies and the National Assembly. Besides, I am sure you don't want a basic salary of 36k for yourself, or do you? Think rationally
I am sorry Pakistan.
Some worthless parliamentarians can't get a real job so they treat the national assembly as a way for losers to get paid, while they do nothing to make changes so Pakistanis get jobs. This culture of voting for criminals and landowners has to change.
What about the salaries of soldiers and officers. It is very disturbingly low
Increase the pays and and increase their punishments 10 times
These people don't even attend parliamentary sessions. Zero performance on issues, and kick backs and development funds. Has there been one law for the common man, yet these perks and privileges gets unanimously planned. Shame on them
First justify that they deserve this x 5 raise. How many hours they have attended, how many hours they have been in sessions, what have they achieved in last one year, what law or legislation or new service they have introduced. What is their 360 evaluation by spot check with balloting in their constituency.
They are so poor, help them out
Shameless move by Govt. to appease useless law makers. No increments till Govt. borrowing from IMF , World Bank.
@Mansha Sherazi I am sorry to say you are wrong because corruption is common
One cannot be self judge and granter of benefits !
Poor countries always have rich politicians!
This is pretty exuberant. it should be half of everything they are asking for. But it should also be tied to key performance indicators. I dont see why speaker and deputy speakers should get more than others?
cabinet members only should get around 75% of what's listed above.
@Rigour Mortis Pakistan Revolution as was French Revolution
@imranrahbar Good idea. Let's shame them at it... Can someone find out where we can send the Zakat during Ramadam, for these poor and needy MNAs??
Simply amazing...
My vote and my family vote will not for PMLN ever again if this goes through.
This is how our leaders INSULT us.......they do nothing for us but everything for themselves.....and they do it quickly.
Where will this money come from?
A good way to get access to "clean" money. But most of these MNAs hail from wealthy families anyway, do they really need such high salaries and allowances?
Even though the current salary does seem quite low compared to other countries, but these guys really need to look at the country's finances before making such absurd demands.
They will probably pass this bill, seeing as it is in their own best interest. Sigh.
@Mansha Sherazi - that is what u think. Once corruption creeps in it is very difficult to get rid of the habit. Beside, we as a nation has entered the level of financial greed and competition to maintain status in our elite club. This greed and maintenance of status in elite society forces our men to run for more and more money as demanded by their wives and children. This raise in salary will not change their mindset but will want more and more as spending will increase. I feel sorry for the poor who will keep on becoming poorer.
@Jahanzaib yeah, if that is so, what do you say of the poor people,where do they end up ?
at this stage when the country in the hub of crises, the raise in salary of parliamentarians has been presented in the house is injustice because the servant is demanding in increase in the salary now the representative seems also on the same stance as was adopted by the salaried class. all parliamentarian are financially sound on one hand and on the other hand finance minister did not object on this the reason is that new he him self shall be facilitated from this if it is approved. if it is implemented it shall be great jock with the nation. MNA, Senator is comparing themseves with federal secretaries is also injustice because majority of them having no knowledge and worth as like secretaries are having. they are coming in Civil servant category so if they demand that is logical.
@Mansha Sherazi you are right, but first they have to stop corruption.show some work and they can demand.But they all are having 3 time dinner like kings. pay rise wont stop corruption, it will increase . Actually no salaries for them because they are all rich except few.
The perk is corruption..no question asked.no fear of punishment.besides so much money is spent without any good outcome.can we de nationalize it.
There should an 'office' for the purposes of holding surgery for dispensation of official parliament work 'only' which should be allowed utility allowance and all other 'perks' should be taxed!