95% ministers not drawing salary, Senate told

ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Law and Justice Azam Nazeer Tarar Friday told the Senate that 95 percent cabinet members did not get salaries as part of the prime minister’s austerity derive.

During the question hour, he explained that a minister’s salary was around Rs2,18000 and he was entitled to a 1500cc vehicle in addition to 400 liter petrol but they must pay their own electricity and gas bills, as they did not receive any other official perks.

“The prime minister has asked the ministers to be role model in relation to austerity,” the minister pointed out.

He also that the MNAs received a monthly salary of Rs156,000, clarifying that they were provided with no vehicle, with only Rs8,000 allotted monthly for utility bills.

Tarar noted that on the subject of big salary increases, the parliament often cited economic constraints when discussing raises for the public representatives.

The Ministry of Interior presented a written reply on the National Database and Registration Authority (Nadra)’s adherence to the austerity measures and explained that the Authority had not purchased any vehicles in the last two years as per its cost-cutting policy.

However, it noted in 2022, Nadra procured 35 vehicles for staff transportation and operational purposes costing Rs264334000, including one costing Rs99733500 and another Rs47624000, including two coaches and one bus for staff pick-and-drop services. Senator Dinesh Kumar raised concerns over what he called the luxury vehicles being used for pick-and-drop service.