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Pakistani parliamentarians are the lowest paid in the
region, according to the speaker of the National Assembly, Dr Fehmida
Mirza, who made the claim to counter accusations that members were
drawing hefty amounts from the national exchequer.
This may be true – but perhaps not if one scrutinises the perks.
A press statement issued by the National Assembly secretariat stated
that the monthly salary of Rs62,280 for MNAs – including allowances –
was low compared to the earnings of legislators in the region and
beyond.
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The statement cited the Members of Parliament (Salaries & Allowances)
Act 1974, and said that the monthly remuneration of MNAs is made up of:
salary of Rs23,803; ad-hoc allowance of Rs11,903; office maintenance
allowance Rs8,000; telephone allowance of Rs10,000; sumptuary allowance
Rs5,000; and ad-hoc relief allowance of Rs3,571.
In addition, the MPs get Rs3,750 for attending sessions and committee
meetings.
However, there are several entitlements which were not mentioned in the
National Assembly secretariat’s clarification.
Amenities to members under the 1974 Act says that, in addition to salary
and allowances as a member, the chairmen of standing committees are
entitled to an additional honorarium of Rs12,700 per month and a staff
car with petrol up to 360 litres per month. Four staff members are also
thrown into the package.
At present, the National Assembly has 42 standing committees and the
number of members for each standing committee varies from 15 to 20. In
addition, there are six special committees, which have a representation
of 151 MPs.
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Theoretically, every single MP of a house of 342 in the National
Assembly, irrespective of their party affiliations, is a member of some
standing committee and is entitled to additional perks, privileges and
allowances.
There is also a clause for absence from sitting, which reads:
“notwithstanding anything contained in this Act, a member who, without
leave of the House, remains absent for three consecutive days of its
sittings, shall not be entitled to receive any daily allowance or
conveyance allowances in respect of the days of such absence.” However,
it appears this is not always enforced.
Travel
Under the amended 1974 Act, every member has been allowed the following
facilities:
Travel vouchers of Rs150,000 per year, cash of Rs90,000 per year in lieu
of travel vouchers and fifteen business class open return air tickets.
During committee meetings they also receive a business class fare and
other perks.
Medical
Members are entitled to medical benefits for themselves and their
families.
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Article 16 of the Warrant of Precedence reads: “The salaries, allowances
and privileges of Members shall automatically be increased by the
Federal Government (by notification in the official Gazette) in
proportion to the increase in the emoluments of the civil servants.”
Speaker
For the speaker: a salary of Rs46,000 per month, ad hoc relief of
Rs6,000 per month, sumptuary allowance of Rs6,000 per month and a
dearness allowance of Rs6,900 month. He or she is entitled to the use of
official transport and is allotted an official residence whose monthly
rent should not exceed Rs68,750 per month. His/her house can be
furnished up to Rs100,000 at government expense.
The deputy speaker draws a salary of Rs42,500 per month, ad hoc relief
of Rs6,000 per month, sumptuary allowance of Rs6,000 per month and a
dearness allowance of Rs6,900 per month.
He is entitled to the use of official transport and to have an official
residence with a monthly rent not exceeding Rs68,750 per month. An
amount not exceeding Rs100,000 may also be spent from the state
exchequer to furnish his house.
Development funds
In addition to the salary and allowances, the government allocated Rs33
billion in the federal budget for 2011-12 for the People’s Works
Program, which is a scheme of small infrastructure projects undertaken
on the recommendations of parliamentarians. Allegations of kickbacks in
the implementation of such schemes are rampant.
Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani has reportedly doled out Rs22.4
billion or 68% of the annual budget earmarked for development schemes
for the entire fiscal year in the first five months (July 2011-November
2011). |