ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: Prime Minister Imran Khan on Thursday voiced serious disappointment over the decision by the Punjab Assembly to raise salaries of the Chief Minister Punjab Usman Buzdar, the Punjab Cabinet and the Provincial Lawmakers.
In a twitter message, the prime minister said that “One prosperity returns to Pakistan such a move could be justified but now, when we don’t have resources to provide basic amenities to all our people, this is untenable”.
I am extremely disappointed by decision of Punjab Assembly to raise pays & privileges of MPAs, Ministers & esp CM. Once prosperity returns to Pak such a move cld be justified, but now, when we do not have resources to provide basic amenities to all our people, this is untenable
— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) March 14, 2019
On Wednesday, the Punjab Assembly unanimously approved a private bill seeking raise in salaries of members of the provincial assembly (MPAs).
As per the bill, per month salary and incentives of members of the Punjab Assembly were raised from Rs 83,000 to Rs 210,000.
The basic salary, according to the details, was raised from Rs 18,000 to Rs 80,000 per month, daily allowance from Rs 1,000 to Rs 4,000 and house rent from Rs 29,000 to Rs 50,000 per month.
The bill has fixed utility allowance from Rs 6,000 to Rs 20,000 per month and hospitality allowance from Rs 10,000 to Rs 20,000 per month.
The Punjab Chief Minister will now be able to receive per month package of over Rs 350,000.
Punjab legislature directly contravenes PTI govt policy of austerity and cost cutting. Shameful behavior in these financially critical times! https://t.co/y1VLHj2FIO
— Shireen Mazari (@ShireenMazari1) March 14, 2019
Seems Punjab Government and the CM House is in the dark about the PM and the federal Govt Austerity policies otherwise such sham exercise of awarding huge benefits to themselves would not have happened…
— Ch Fawad Hussain (@fawadchaudhry) March 14, 2019
