PUNJAB MPAS’ COMPENSATION INCREASED

THE Punjab Government has increased the monthly salary of the members of Punjab Assembly, which has gone up to Rs.83,000 from 45,000, while the monthly salary of Parliamentary Secretaries has increased to Rs. 97,000 from 76,000.

The low salaries was an issue on which both treasury and opposition members were on same page as a unanimous resolution was passed from Punjab Assembly on February 17 this year. At that time, Law Minister Rana Sanaullah had submitted to Speaker Rana Iqbal Khan that salaries and allowances of MPAs needed to be raised to cater for inflation, making it comparable with the emoluments of MPAs and parliamentary secretaries of other provinces. He also said that he was under pressure from the treasury benches to increase their salaries and other privileges, which were last raised in 2006. Rana Sana, in his bill, proposed an increase of 100 percent. This legislation was unanimously passed by the house.

After completing all necessary legal work, the finance department increased monthly salaries and other perks and privileges for the MPs of Punjab Assembly.

A letter available with Pakistan Today, which was written to Secretary, Law & Parliamentary Affairs Department and Secretary, Services and General Administration Department (S&GAD) by Punjab Finance Department reads that increase in emoluments of Public Representatives was approved w.e.f July 1, 2015.

Earlier than this approval, the gross salary of every MPA was Rs 12,000 which has been raised up to 18,000 while all Parliamentary Secretaries will receive the same gross salary of Rs 24,000 per month.

The house rent allowance for MPAs has been increased to Rs 29,000 from Rs 10,000.

There is no increase in the amount of office maintenance and it will be remain Rs 10,000 per month.

All MPAs will receive an increase of 5,000 in sumptuary allowance, which is now Rs 10,000.

The utility allowance of MPAs has increased from Rs 3,000 to Rs 6,000. Parliamentary secretaries had no amount in this term but now they will also receive Rs 6,000 per month.

The additional travelling allowance for both MPAs and Parliamentary Secretaries has been mounted up to Rs 120,000 from 75,000 per year. Daily allowance during Assembly session and meeting was Rs 650 per day, which has been increased up to Rs 1,000 while conveyance allowance for MPAs has increased up to Rs 600..

The transport allowance has been increased up to Rs 15 from Rs 5 per kilometer for both MPAs and Parliamentary Secretaries.

According to documents, the accommodation allowance will remain Rs 1500 per day for the MPAs during session and meetings while for parliamentary secretaries, this has been increased to Rs 2500 from Rs 1500.