Body clears bills allowing perks for parliamentarians’ family members
ISLAMABAD: The Senate Standing Committee on Finance and Revenue on Tuesday unanimously cleared a bill that allows the family members of all parliamentarians to avail 25 unutilised business class domestic air tickets, besides Rs300,000 annual travel vouchers.
Presided over by Senator Farooq Hamid Naek, the committee approved the ‘Members of Parliament (Salaries and Allowances) Amendment Bill, 2020’ to make changes in a similar act of 1974.
Mr Naek told media persons that the change in the bill would not have additional burden on the national exchequer as only the procedure had been changed. He said all members of the upper house of parliament were not rich people.
According to a statement of objects and reasons for the bill, the parliamentary affairs division explained that Section 10 of the Members of Parliament (Salary & Allowances) Act, 1974, was regulating the free travel privilege of the parliamentarians. Members are entitled to 25 business class open return air tickets per annum from the airport nearest to their constituencies to Islamabad.
In addition, vouchers of Rs300,000 are also provided for travelling by air or train by parliamentarians as well as their family members during a year. The parliamentary affairs division said there had been a persistent demand by the parliamentarians to extend the utility of 25 air tickets to their family members as well.
The National Assembly Standing Committee on Rules of Procedures has also supported the demand.
Therefore, vouchers of equal value in lieu of admissible 25 business class open return air tickets would now be issued to the members of parliament, which could also be utilised by family members of parliamentarians as well. Also, the 25 open business class air tickets and vouchers issued for a year would not expire and would be allowed to be utilised by spouses or children under 18 years of age anytime.
The bill was moved by Adviser to the Prime Minister on Parliamentary Affairs Babar Awan in the Senate.
Under the amended law, a member not interested to be given vouchers shall be paid an allowance, equivalent to the entitled value of the vouchers.
Published in Dawn, June 17th, 2020
