‘MNAs feel ashamed while signing low salary cheques’

Members demand increase in perks and privileges

ISLAMABAD: A sub-committee of the National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Rules of Procedure and Privileges has demanded that the salaries of MNAs should be equal to  federal secretaries.

The committee meeting was held with its convener Shagufta Jumani in the chair. Chaudhry Khadim Hussain, lqbal Qadri and officials of the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs were present on the occasion.

The body was informed that a summary on the subject had been sent last year to the Finance Division, which promised to look into the matter.An official of the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs requested the committee members for a new summary containing recommendations, which would be sent to the Ministry of Finance.

The committee members said a letter would be written to all the provincial assemblies for reviewing their perks and privileges which were enjoyed by their members.They said the MNAs were drawing around Rs36,000 per month as basic pay which was less than a federal secretary though they enjoyed a status equal to the federal secretary. They remarked that they felt ashamed while signing the cheque to draw salary.