The newly-elected Members of the National Assembly (MNAs) in Pakistan will receive a monthly salary exceeding Rs188,000, comprising a basic salary and various allowances. This confirmation comes amidst circulating social media claims questioning the accuracy of such figures.
On February 26, Aik News Pakistan shared a Facebook post outlining the salary and benefits for MNAs. Muhammad Adil, the channel’s Director News (North), reported a basic salary of Rs150,000 plus additional allowances of Rs38,000 covering telephone, office expenses, ad-hoc relief, and more.
An official from the national assembly’s cash and accounts branch, preferring anonymity, verified the monthly remuneration, as outlined in The Members of Parliament (Salaries and Allowances) Act 1974, accessible on the National Assembly’s website, was last updated in July 2021.
Component | Per Month |
---|---|
Basic Pay | Rs150,000 |
Sumptuary Allowance | Rs5,000 |
Telephone Allowance | Rs10,000 |
Office Maintenance Allowance | Rs8,000 |
Ad-hoc Relief Allowance 2017@10% | Rs15,000 |
Total | Rs188,000 |
Beyond the basic salary, MNAs receive further allowances for travel and medical needs. Attendance at national assembly sessions entails a special daily allowance of Rs4,800, an ordinary daily allowance of Rs2,800, and conveyance and housing allowances of Rs2,000 each. These amounts are provided for three days before and after each session.
Travel compensation varies by mode, including Rs150 per kilometre for business class air travel, Rs10 per kilometre by road, and the equivalent of one air-conditioned and one second-class train fare by rail.
Also, MNAs are entitled to “free travel” vouchers, a cash allowance for use on Pakistani airlines or railways, and a free telephone installation at their residence. The state also reimburses medical expenses incurred by each MNA.