ISLAMABAD, Feb 27: President Pervez Musharraf increased on Wednesday the salary of the President of Pakistan by 130 per cent, raising it from Rs23,000 to Rs57,000.

The president also increased the salaries of Supreme and high court judges by an average of 30 per cent.

Besides, he has amended the President’s Pension Act, providing that he would be entitled to 85 per cent pension of the salary. Earlier, the retired president was entitled to Rs10,000 as pension.

Apart from the pension, the retired president will have free official residence for life or rent at the rate of Rs50,000 per month if the official residence is not provided or occupied.

The residence will be maintained at the government expenses, as the government will pay local rates of residence and taxes, provision of electricity to the extent of monthly consumption of 2000 units, gas to the extent of monthly consumption 10HM3 and water.

The retired president will also be entitled to car allowance at the rate of Rs20,000 per month, or such higher amount as the federal government may, keeping in view the price of motor fuel, cost of car and its maintenance, determine from time to time.

The amendment in the Salary of Judges of Superior Courts Order 2002 has provided that a Supreme Court judge will get a salary of Rs52,000 while a high court judge Rs49,000 per month. The increase is effective from Dec 1, 2001.

The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court has been given an increase of Rs12,000 per month and will now draw Rs55,000.

A Supreme Court judge will now draw Rs52,000 per month against his earlier salary of Rs40,000.

The chief justice of a high court would get Rs51,000 per month instead of Rs39,000 while a high court judge would now fetch a salary of Rs49,000 per month as against Rs38,000, which he is drawing at present.

Apart from the salary, a judge of the Supreme Court is entitled to free residence, utility bills, officially maintained car, cook, driver and a guard at his residence.

After retirement, a judge of the superior court is entitled to pension equivalent to 70 per cent of his salary or an average Rs37,000 along with the facility of commutation of pension up to 40 per cent.

A retired judge of the superior court is also entitled to 200 litres of petrol per month, telephone bills for 1,000 local calls, 1,000 electricity units, 12,000 cubic feet of gas, and water free of cost — or an average package of around Rs20,000.

Every retiring judge of the superior judiciary is also entitled to take away a car on depreciated value, most of the time 30 to 40 per cent of the actual price of the car.

He is also entitled to have a driver and a cook or an orderly at government expense till the time of his death. In case, the judge leaves behind a widow or unmarried daughter, she would be entitled to enjoy all the facilities.