Federal Minister for Law and Justice Azam Nazeer Tarar briefed the Senate on Friday about the salaries, perks, and allowances of federal ministers during the Senate’s question hour.
Minister Tarar shared that Members of the National Assembly (MNAs) receive a monthly salary of Rs156,000, with no provision for official vehicles and an allocation of Rs8,000 per month for utility bills.
He further explained that federal ministers earn approximately Rs200,000 monthly, with 95% choosing not to draw their full salaries. Ministers are provided a 1500cc car and 400 liters of petrol each month but must personally cover electricity and gas expenses, as no additional official benefits are granted.
Addressing the topic of salary adjustments, Tarar noted that economic constraints often influence parliamentary decisions on pay raises for public officials.
The Senate also reviewed a written response from the Interior Ministry concerning Nadra’s compliance with austerity measures. The ministry reported that no vehicles were purchased over the last two years as part of cost-saving initiatives. However, in 2022, Nadra acquired 35 vehicles, including two coaches and one bus, costing Rs264.3 million, for staff transportation and operational needs.
Senator Dinesh Kumar expressed concern over the use of luxury vehicles for staff transport, pointing out the apparent contradiction with austerity measures.
