During a recent Senate question hour, Federal Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar provided an extensive overview of the salaries, allowances, and perks of federal ministers and Members of the National Assembly (MNAs).
Minister Tarar stated that MNAs earn a monthly salary of Rs 156,000, and parliamentarians do not get vehicles and receive only Rs 8,000 monthly for utility expenses. Meanwhile, federal ministers earn nearly Rs 200,000, though 95% opt not to receive their entire salary. Each minister is provided with a 1500 cc car and 400 litres of petrol but must pay for electricity and gas themselves.
Addressing potential salary increases, Minister Tarar indicated that economic constraints often limit discussions about raising public officials’ salaries within Parliament.
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The interior ministry provided a written response on the National Database and Registration Authority (Nadra)’s compliance with austerity measures. According to the ministry, Nadra refrained from purchasing any vehicles in the last two years as part of its cost-cutting policy. However, in 2022, Nadra acquired 35 vehicles totalling Rs264.3 million for staff transportation and operational needs, including two coaches and one bus for staff transportation services.
Senator Dinesh Kumar expressed concerns about using luxury vehicles for staff transportation services and questioned whether these practices align with austerity measures.
The Senate discussion highlighted ongoing efforts and challenges in managing government expenses and the benefits provided to federal officials. Minister Tarar’s briefing underscored the government’s commitment to transparency while revealing the complexities of public expenditure management.
