Latest news with #Rs519
Express Tribune
05-05-2025
- Business
- Express Tribune
Perks for classes
Our state coffers are famously empty when it comes to catering to the common man – be it the matter of giving the public servants a raise in their salaries at the time of the annual budget; making allocations for health and education; providing even a negligible relief from the unbearable power tariff and petrol prices; launching any public welfare programme; or any other similar measure. Remember what Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb had recently stated? The finance czar, during a Question Hour session in the National Assembly, made it categorically clear that "at present, no proposal is under consideration of the government for substantial rise of pensions of Federal Government employees in the next financial year." Obviously, due to empty coffers! However, the same "empty" coffers are ever ready to spew huge sums for the ruling elite – the very fraternity that the FM belongs to. Just last week, the salaries of federal ministers and ministers of state have been notified to increase Rs519,000 per month from Rs200,000 and Rs180,000 respectively. So urgent was the need for this raise – of 160-180 per cent, applicable from January – that the President of Pakistan had to issue an ordinance to this effect. The salaries of the mentioned ministers now match the salaries of MNAs and senators which had been raised by 175% this past February. It's audacity at its appalling best that the custodians of state coffers themselves cannot wait to clinch their pound of flesh, right in the middle of a serious economic crisis – while the masses continue to make sacrifices for the national cause. Shouldn't our elected representatives lead by example. Shouldn't they have avoided accepting the mentioned benefits and preferred being seen standing among the general public?
Express Tribune
05-05-2025
- Business
- Express Tribune
Federal ministers get 188% salary bump
Listen to article The federal government on Sunday increased the salaries of ministers and ministers of state by 188% through a presidential ordinance, bringing their remunerations in line with that of members of parliament. President Asif Zardari issued the Federal Ministers and Ministers of State Salary and Benefits Amendment Ordinance 2025. It said that the increment would be effective from January 1, 2025, officials said. Through the ordinance, the government made the salaries of federal ministers and ministers of state equal to those of the assembly members. After the ordinance, the salaries of federal ministers and ministers of state were set at Rs519,000. The salaries of federal ministers were increased from Rs200,000 to 519,000, while the salaries of ministers of state were increased from 180,000 to 519,000. The federal cabinet had approved the 188% increase in the salaries of federal ministers and ministers of state in March.
Express Tribune
04-05-2025
- Business
- Express Tribune
Federal ministers' monthly pay increased to Rs519,000
Listen to article President Asif Ali Zardari promulgated four new ordinances, one of which increases the salaries of federal ministers and ministers of state to match those of National Assembly members (MNAs). The new ordinance amends the Federal Ministers and Ministers of State (Salaries, Allowances and Privileges) Act, 1975, setting the monthly salary for federal ministers and ministers of state at Rs519,000, equal to that of MNAs. Before the change, federal ministers earned Rs200,000 per month, and state ministers received Rs180,000. As per the ordinance, the revised salaries will be effective from January 1, 2025. In addition, President Zardari issued an ordinance to establish the National Agri-trade and Food Safety Authority (NAFSA), aimed at ensuring sanitary and phytosanitary measures for imports and exports. Another ordinance, the Tax Laws (Amendment) Ordinance, 2025, was enacted to recover pending tax amounts involved in litigation. The president also approved the Capital Development Authority (Amendment) Ordinance, 2025, as part of a broader set of administrative reforms.
Express Tribune
22-03-2025
- Business
- Express Tribune
Ministers get staggering 188% salary bump
Despite tall claims of austerity and belt-tightening by the PML-N-led government, the federal cabinet has approved a summary for increasing the salaries of ministers, ministers of state and advisers, massively raising their pay to Rs519,000 per month. The increase came as the government acknowledged the financial strain on the salaried class due to taxation which, according to the statistics provided in the lower house of parliament, were heavy. According to sources, the increase amounts to a staggering 188% bump, giving ministers a handsome windfall at a time when ordinary citizens are being asked to tighten their belts due to excessive taxes. The development comes two months after the Finance Committee of the National Assembly approved an increase in the salaries and allowances of MNAs and Senators, bringing them in line with federal secretaries. The committee, chaired by Speaker Ayaz Sadiq, had unanimously approved the pay raise for parliamentarians. In the recent past, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had more than doubled the size of the federal cabinet, increasing its members from 21 to 43, including 30 federal ministers, nine ministers of state and four advisers. The new appointees also include four special assistants to the prime minister, meaning that the overall size of the premier's team now stands at 51 members, including eight SAPMs. According to Article 92 of the Constitution, no more than one-fourth of federal ministers and ministers of state can be from the Senate, and the total cabinet size cannot exceed 11 per cent of the total parliamentary membership. Presently, the National Assembly and Senate have 336 and 96 members, respectively, totaling 432. Having a hefty federal cabinet is not a new phenomenon in the country, as almost all previous regimes have claimed they would keep its size small, but later packed their cabinets. Ironically, Minister of State for Railways Bilal Azhar Kayani told the National Assembly on Friday that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has repeatedly acknowledged the issue of excessive tax burden on salaried individuals. However, due to the country's fragile economic situation, immediate relief was not possible. "We hope to reach a position soon where relief can be provided," Kayani added, without specifying a timeframe.
Express Tribune
04-03-2025
- Business
- Express Tribune
Is PTI defying Imran?
The PTI has been through the wringer in recent years, but its latest predicament stands out - the party leadership is turning a deaf ear to founding chairman Imran Khan's repeated calls to contribute to party funds, even as it faces a severe financial crunch. Party insiders say the money woes are piling up, with a perfect storm of challenges ranging from the freezing of party accounts by institutions to leaders keeping their purse strings tight despite Khan's instructions from behind bars. While some PTI leaders publicly dismiss claims of a financial crunch, insiders reveal that the party is running on fumes. The situation has deteriorated to the extent that staff salaries have been slashed by half, and the party is now operating with a skeleton crew. To add insult to injury, the decision to sack staff and cut the salaries of the remaining staff has come when the PTI lawmakers have just got a raise in their salaries from the parliament. Previously, the lawmakers used to get a monthly salary of Rs180,000, which has now been increased for each MNA and senator to Rs519,000. It all had started in January when a PTI circular, issued with the approval of Khan, directed the parliamentarians and ticket holders to make an annual contribution of Rs240,000 with two six monthly instalments into party funds. "The party is passing through one of its most difficult times in the history of the party," read the circular, adding that the party has decided that it needs to call on all those holding important positions in the party to raise the necessary funds for running the party. The Khan-approved circular had hoped to receive the necessary funds from party leaders during January 2025, and, thereafter every six months. However, the party insiders said, Khan's instructions have not been taken seriously so far and, as a result, the party was forced to cut expenditures by slashing salaries and staffers. "I don't know the exact position," one senior PTI leader said, "but I believe sufficient funds are available for salaries and expenses in party funds. In response to several questions, the party stalwart revealed that no money was spent from the party's funds for party leaders' recent visit to Sindh, saying everyone either bore all his expenses or contributed to the visit. In addition, PTI leader said that the opposition parties' recent huddle was sponsored by Awam Pakistan convener Shahid Khaqan Abbasi and PKMAP chief Mahmood Khan Achakzai, saying PTI also contributed but the majority of expenses were borne by Abbasi and Achakzai. "There is no question of not contributing to party funds, especially, after Khan Sahib's directions," he emphasized. "Rs240,000 isn't much. I don't have exact figures but many have contributed." Nevertheless, he offered no explanation for reducing party staff and slashing salaries to half. PTI spokesperson Sheikh Waqas Akram said the party decided to collect funds from its members after the FIA and the ECP froze its accounts, halting financial inflows. "It is the responsibility of the MNAs, MPAs and ticket holders to take care of the people working for the party," the PTI spokesperson said. Akram clarified that he being the information secretary doesn't interfere in the finance department of the party but added that party leaders have contributed on and off through banks. He, however, didn't have exact details on the grounds that "it's not my department." He didn't specifically comment on the sacking of PTI staffers and the slashing of their salaries. Several other party leaders, including PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar, were also requested to share their comments but they didn't.
