Prime Minister Imran Khan has expressed extreme disappointment over Punjab Assembly's decision to increase salaries of its members at a time when the federal government is stressing the need for taking austerity measures to mitigate budgetary crisis.
The prime minister in a tweet stated, "I am extremely disappointed by decision of Punjab Assembly to raise pays and privileges of members of Punjab Assembly (MPAs), ministers and especially the chief minister. Once prosperity returns to Pakistan, such a move could be justified, but now, when we do not have resources to provide basic amenities to all our people, this is untenable."
On Wednesday last, the bill to raise the salaries of public representatives sailed through the Punjab Assembly with complete consensus and within five minutes as it had raised salaries and fringe benefits of all assembly members, including the chief minister, ministers, the speaker and the deputy speaker.
"In consideration of financial constraints, keeping in view the austerity drive of present government and to save public money, it has been decided to effect a saving of 10 percent in current expenditure,' the government announced last month. The government has announced a series of austerity measures through a notification series of measures as cost cutting move. A ban was imposed on purchase of all types of vehicles and ministries and division were directed to generate 10 percent saving in the current fiscal year and sources stated that these measures were necessary to confront the budgetary shortfall.