PM’s anger forces minor changes to PA salary raise bill

LAHORE: The Punjab chief minister’s lifetime perks have been revoked and the speaker of the Punjab Assembly’s salary increment has been cancelled as part of minor changes made to a bill seeking to increase the Punjab MPAs’ salaries, on Friday. However, there will be no cut in salaries of the assembly members.

The lifetime perks and benefits of the Punjab CM were revoked from the bill, and he will only be provided lifetime security. The speaker’s salary was also decreased by Rs25,000.

The amendment was made to the bill by Punjab Assembly Speaker Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi after Prime Minister Imran Khan expressed his disappointment on Thursday at the Punjab Assembly’s decision to raise the salaries and perks of the chief minister, the Punjab cabinet and MPAs.

He said the increase could only be justified once prosperity returns to Pakistan. The speaker has the power to correct patent errors and make changes to a bill that has been accepted by the assembly, under Section 200 of the Rules and Procedure of the Provincial Assembly of the Punjab, 1997. The amended bill has been sent to the governor for approval.

On Wednesday, the Punjab Assembly passed a bill to increase the financial perks and privileges of public representatives in the province. The bill was passed within five minutes with a complete consensus, raising salaries and fringe benefits of all assembly members. As per the bill, the monthly salary of members, including perks and allowances, was raised from Rs83,000 to Rs210,000. MPAs say they are paid very little compared to their colleagues in other provinces.