The federal cabinet’s approval of a substantial salary increase for itself highlights the widening gap between the public and its representatives.
Through a circulated summary, the cabinet decided to raise the salaries of federal ministers, ministers of state, and advisers to the prime minister to Rs. 519,000/month. Previously federal ministers received Rs. 200,000/month in remuneration, while ministers of state earned Rs. 180,000/month. The reported increase raises the salaries of federal ministers by 159% and those of ministers of state and advisers by a whopping 188%.
The decision follows parliamentarians—regardless of political affiliation—passing a bill to raise their salaries from Rs. 218,000/month to Rs. 519,000/month, a move that also attracted significant criticism.
It is no secret that a majority of parliamentarians belong to the country’s economic elite for whom even the raised salaries are mere peanuts. This is not the case for the vast majority of the country, with the World Bank estimating that the country’s poverty rate stood at 25.3% in 2024, a significant hike from the 18.6% estimated for the previous year. This suggests that roughly 13 million additional people fell into poverty in just one year, highlighting the economic distress inflicted upon the public by years of backbreaking inflation and economic distress. Additionally, the World Bank states that poor households experience disproportionately higher welfare losses, pushing them deeper into poverty.
Given the rising poverty levels and struggles facing Pakistanis in securing employment, the timing of the salary hikes is particularly concerning. It betrays a degree of apathy from political leaders, whose granting of significant raises to themselves amid such economic distress is akin to salting the wound. Further, it undermines the sacrifices citizens have been asked to make in the form of hefty utility bills and high taxes for the “national interest.”
The government must reassess its actions and adopt the same austerity measures it expects from the public. Political leaders must lead by example and prioritize the nation’s welfare over personal gains. Only through such measures can the trust between the public and its leaders be restored, paving the way for a more equitable and prosperous Pakistan.