On Thursday, Sindh Assembly unanimously passed the bill for increasing the salaries and perks of the chief minister and the provincial minister along with the legislators.
It is noteworthy to state that not a single member offered resistance to the move, not even from the opposition benches. The bill did not even have to face a debate, and was passed merrily by one and all in the Sindh Assembly.
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Salaries Have Now Been Doubled
The details reveal that the salaries of the lawmakers have now been doubled.
The salary of a lawmaker has been increased to Rs50,000 from Rs24,000. Moreover, he will also be given Rs15,000 in the form of bills subsidy.
Some other perks include:
- Rs10,000 for telephone bills
- Rs15,000 for maintenance
- Rs45,000 for home allowance
Any lawmaker who represents the constituency from outside Karachi, will get a surged amount of Rs5,000 in the shape of accommodation. Moreover, a lawmaker will also get an additional amount of Rs200,000 annually.
Apart from the aforementioned augmentation, the status of an opposition leader has been upgraded to that of minister.
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Prior to an increased salary, the chief minister of Sindh used to get Rs75,000. However, he will now be getting Rs150,000. As far as the salaries of speaker and deputy speaker is concerned, it has been increased to Rs150,000 and Rs140,000 respectively.
Sindh’s provincial ministers will now be getting Rs75,000 for benefits including:
- Stipend for utility bills
- Maintenance allowance
- Medical allowance
- 500 liters petrol
- Government car
- Driver
- Rs55,000 for house allowance
- Rs50,000 for equipment allowance
Considering the extent of friction between the benches at the Sindh Assembly, a bill passed unanimously is indeed a historic event. Ironic that this show of unanimity had to be on a matter of least significance for the public.
Do you think Sindh Assembly has done the right thing by passing the bill?