The salaries of the Senate Chairman and National Assembly Speaker were increased through decisions made within their own parliamentary committees. According to sources, the Senate’s House Finance Committee raised the salaries of the Chairman and Deputy Chairman, while the National Assembly’s House Finance Committee increased the pay of the Speaker and Deputy Speaker. Both committees quietly approved salary hikes for four key officials during separate meetings held months ago.
The government reportedly has no direct role in these salary decisions, as the Parliament’s two houses operate independently with their own budgets. Sources added that under the law, the Prime Minister cannot interfere in the financial affairs of the Senate or National Assembly.
However, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has taken notice of the raises and requested a report, though any intervention would be limited to moral suasion or cabinet recommendations.
Finance Minister defended the salary increases in a recent post-budget press conference, stating that salaries for ministers, parliamentarians, and top parliamentary officials had not been raised since 2016. Meanwhile, Defense Minister Khawaja Asif criticized the pay hikes on social media, calling them “financial obscenity.”
The increases come amid a budget that granted a 10% raise for government employees and 7% more for pensions. The substantial salary hikes for the Speaker and Senate Chairman have drawn widespread criticism given the country’s economic challenges and inflation.