ISLAMABAD, 19 MAY (DNA) – The National Assembly on Thursday adopted report of special committee seeking enhancement of salaries, perks and privileges of lawmakers/ Speaker, Deputy Speaker National Assembly, Chairman and Deputy Chairman Senate.

Acting Chairman of the Standing Committee on Rules of Procedure and Privilege Chaudhary Mahmood Bashir Virk presented the special report of the committee on the salary and allowances of the Speaker/Chairman Senate, Deputy Speaker/Deputy Chairman in the House.

Speaking on the occasion, he said there was a general impression that the lawmakers were drawing huge salaries besides perks and privilege. However, their salaries were very meagre.

He said salary, perks and privilege of lawmaker of neighbouring countries India, Bangladesh, Afghanistan and European countries were also studied before finalizing the report.

The committee recommended that salaries of the members should be brought at par with the salary of federal secretary of (BS-22). It is proposed that basic salary of the lawmaker should be enhanced from existing Rs.36,420 to Rs.200,000 while office maintenance allowance from Rs.8000 to Rs.100,000, constituency allowance Rs.70,000 and Transport and utility allowances each Rs.50,000.

It is also proposed that a member provided with vouchers may be allowed to opt for encashment of said vouchers with the same amount of Rs.300,000. Similarly, it is also proposed to enhance the salaries, perks and privileges of Speaker National Assembly, Chairman Senate, Deputy Speaker and Deputy Chairman.

It is proposed that the basic salary of Speaker/Chairman should be increased from existing Rs. 97,124 to Rs.400,000, sumptuary allowance from Rs.6000 to Rs.50,000 while basic salary of Deputy Speaker/Deputy Chairman from Rs.89,841 to Rs.350,000 and sumptuary allowance from Rs.6000 to Rs.40,000.

At total of three reports of various standing committee including the special report of the committee on the salary and allowances of the Speaker/Chairman Senate, Deputy Speaker/Deputy Chairman, standing committees on Housing and Works and Petroleum and Natural Resources were presented in the National Assembly.

Haji Muhammad Akram Ansari and Bilal Ahmed Virk presented the said reports. Meanwhile, Chairman Standing Committee on Ports and Shipping presented the periodical report of the committee in the House for the period from July 2015 to December 2015 as required by rule 234A of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the National Assembly. DNA