Bickering on proposed salary boost for Punjab lawmakers

 

The government of Punjab Pakistan has announced a bill in the provincial assembly through which it would increase the salaries and allowances of its members tenfold. The issue has attracted public debate as some opine that the step is necessary to attract and retain talented persons in the political arena while others think it an unnecessary burden on taxpayers.

As proposed by the bill, the basic salary of MPAs is going to more than double from the current 200,000 PKR per month to a staggering 450,000 PKR. In addition to this, various allowances and benefits, such as housing, transport, and medical care, are also going to rise sharply. The government defends this decision by stating that the current salaries are not commensurate with the high-level responsibilities and demands placed on elected representatives.

Several quarters of critics, from opposition political parties and civil society, have condemned the lawmakers' proposed raise in salary, arguing that the funds could better be used on issues like inflation going up, unemployment, and inadequate access to basic services, affecting common folk in the country. The critics also raise a point about the timing for making the proposal, especially during times of a tough economic condition and some austerity measures across the nation.

According to critics, the increase in political salary is essential to attract and retain the best minds in that political arena.

They argue that the prevailing salaries cannot benefit them for the high intensity level of the job because working as lawmakers requires very long working hours to do constituency and public service. The group, they argue, is drawn to public service to eliminate more risks of corruption as only quality individuals will be interested and attracted to public service as a result of a pay system.

The opponents argue that the proposed salary hike is a misplaced priority and a waste of public funds. They say that the government should focus on the betterment of the lives of common people rather than enriching the political class. Some have even said that the money could be better used to fund basic public services, such as healthcare, education, and infrastructure development. As people of Pakistan would see the response the government give to this bill criticism; the people will continue debate by witnessing the performance of that bill, if the new proposal of bill can get itself passage of assembly. This outcome would reflect wider consequences on political situation at Punjab as well as credibility in peoples for their elected officials.