Islamabad: In a sharp revision to top government officials’ pay, the Pakistani government has officially raised the monthly salaries of the National Assembly Speaker and the Senate Chairman to ₹1.3 million, marking a massive jump from their earlier pay of ₹205,000, Samaa TV reported on Saturday.
The Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs issued the notification on May 29, although details became public only on Friday.
According to the notification, both the Speaker and Senate Chairman will also receive an additional 50% as a temporary allowance, making their total monthly compensation even more substantial. The revised pay will be applied retrospectively from January 1, 2025.
Massive Pay Hikes Across the Board
This development follows a broader wave of salary increases for government officials.
Back on March 21, it was reported that the federal cabinet had approved significant pay hikes for federal ministers, ministers of state, and advisers, with some receiving raises of up to 188%.
An amendment to the Federal Ministers and Ministers of State (Allowances and Salaries) Act, 1975 facilitated these changes. The summary was approved via circulation within the cabinet.
Under the revised structure:
- Federal Ministers now earn ₹519,000/month (previously ₹200,000) — a 159% increase
- Ministers of State now earn ₹519,000/month (previously ₹180,000) — an 188% increase
Earlier in the year, the Finance Committee had also sanctioned a salary increase for members of the National Assembly and Senate, raising their monthly pay to ₹519,000.
Public Reaction and Political Context
The steep rise in public officials’ salaries has drawn attention amidst ongoing economic challenges in the country. While the government defends the move as part of standardizing compensation, critics argue it sends the wrong message in a time of inflation and fiscal austerity.