KP to pay generous salaries to heads of LBs

Other provinces yet to make a decision

ISLAMABAD: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) government has fixed sizable remunerations of mayors, deputy mayors, chairmen and vice chairmen of local councils, hugely burdening its kitty, but the Punjab, Sindh and Balochistan administrations have left payment or fixing of salaries to such heads open.

However, these governments are absolutely unlikely to be as charitable as the KP administration even if some of them will be willing to disburse remunerations to the chiefs of the local governments.

“I believe the mayors and chairmen of local councils in Punjab, Sindh and Balochistan will be content with the considerable political clout they enjoy because of their positions in their own cities, districts and towns, and would not mind if they are not paid anything from the public exchequer,” an official told The News.

A predominant majority of them belongs to well-off families and doesn’t need salaries and other financial benefits from the cash-starved provincial governments.

There are already reports that a major portion of the KP government’s development budget meant for the local councils will be eaten up by the monthly pays and other expenses incurred on the chiefs of these councils.

The KP government will be paying salaries to the Nazims and Naib Nazims of cities, districts, Tehsils and villages. However, the councilors will get no pecuniary benefits.

The local governments are already in place in Balochistan and KP because the elections were held before the polls in Punjab and Sindh.

Section 106 of the Punjab Local Government Act says a local government may, subject to the prescribed limitations, make budgetary provisions for honoraria and allowances of the Mayor, Chairman, Deputy Mayor, Vice Chairman or a member of the local government.

It is clear from this provision that the Punjab government had not fixed any remuneration for these senior members of the local councils and has left it to these bodies to make budgetary provisions to the effect.

The Sindh Local Government Act says that the Mayor or Chairman and Deputy Mayor or Vice-Chairman may be paid such honoraria or allowed such other privileges as may be prescribed and the honoraria and other privileges provided for the first time after coming into force of this law shall be admissible from the date on which such Mayor or Chairman or Deputy Mayor or Vice-Chairman will assume office.

Section 35 of the Balochistan Local Government Act says a Chairman and Vice Chairman of a local council may receive such remuneration as may be prescribed. The council includes Union Councils, District Councils, Municipal Committees, Municipal Corporations and the Quetta Metropolitan Corporation.

The members of the National Assembly and senators have often attracted public flak for getting salaries, allowances and other perks and privileges including the highly subsidised lodging, air travel etc. They are given the annual raise as allowed to the government servants in every federal budget.

These lawmakers are separately paid allowances for attending meetings of the House committees of which they are members. While they have to come to Islamabad from all parts of Pakistan to attend the parliamentary sessions and other activities, the mayors, deputy mayors, chairmen and deputy chairmen of the local governments are not required to go for official assignments away from their areas where they have their personal houses and other facilities.

While fixing the hefty remunerations for the heads of the local governments, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) led administration in KP argued that it has done so to keep the mayors and others away from corrupt practices. Additionally, it said, they will be paid for the public service rendered by them for their electorates.

In most countries not only the federal and regional lawmakers but also office holders of local governments are duly paid. They are also allowed to have offices and secretarial staff at the government expense.