Federal Ministers Approve Salary Increments for Themselves
In a significant development, federal ministers, ministers of state, and advisers in Pakistan have received a major salary hike of up to 188%, following an amendment to the Federal Ministers and Ministers of State (Allowances and Salaries) Act, 1975.
Sources confirmed on Thursday that the federal cabinet members approved the salary increments through circulation, ensuring a significant boost in their monthly pay. The amendment has now paved the way for these new salary structures to take immediate effect.
Revised Salaries After the Hike
With the approval of the new bill, the revised salaries for federal ministers, ministers of state, and advisers are as follows:
- Federal Ministers: Rs519,000 (previously Rs200,000) – 159% increase
- Ministers of State: Rs519,000 (previously Rs180,000) – 188% increase
- Advisers: Rs519,000 (increment details same as above)
This increase aligns their salaries with those of MNAs and senators, who also saw their pay raised to Rs519,000 in January 2025 following a Finance Committee approval.
No Change for Speaker & Deputy Speaker
Despite these hikes, the salaries of the Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly remain unchanged at Rs218,000 per month. According to sources, the Finance Committee lacked the authority to revise their salaries, and their pay structure remains intact.
Proposal for Lawmakers’ Salary Alignment
A proposal to align the salaries and benefits of MNAs and senators with those of a federal secretary was submitted to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. Following its approval by the National Assembly’s Finance Committee, Speaker Ayaz Sadiq forwarded the recommendations to the Prime Minister, resulting in the current salary revision.