Security, transport facility proposed by Finance Bill: only elected former presidents, former Prime Ministers should be eligible: Senate panel

Senate Standing Committee on Finance here Friday unanimously recommended that only elected former presidents and prime ministers should be eligible for the suitable security and vehicle facility as proposed in Finance Bill (2011-12). Senate Standing Committee on Finance was surprised to know that 27% government employees belonging to 8 ministries and divisions are getting triple salary per month and 73% employees are getting single salary per month in Pakistan.
During committee meeting chaired by Senator Nasreen Jalil, Opposition Leader Senator Ishaq Dar from PML (N) categorically said that there should be no privileges for the former presidents and prime ministers and if it is necessary, than only elected former presidents and prime ministers should be eligible for this facility.
Rana Asad Amin Advisor to Ministry of Finance here on Friday informed the Senate Standing Committee on Finance that variations have been witnessed in salary structure of the federal government employees. Around 27 percent government employees belonging to eight ministries and divisions are getting up to triple salary per month and 73 percent employees are getting single salary per month in Pakistan.
He further informed that the committee headed by Dr Ishrat Hussain was constituted to give recommendation for removal of the distortions in the existing salary structure of the government employees and that committee was given task to submit recommendations before budget announcement, however, now the committee would submit its report by next four months. As soon as the report would be available, the government would ensure to remove the distortions existed in the salary structure of the government employees.
He further informed that eight ministries and divisions including President House, Prime Minister House, FBR, Senate, National Assembly and law enforcement agencies and judiciary are getting additional salary ranging from 50% to triple salary per month.
While opposing this salary structure, Senator Ishaq Dar said that special classes are being created in the federal government, this is the sole reason that influential get appointed their loved ones in such ministries and divisions. Members of the committee were of the view that 73% employees of the federal ministries are being treated like orphans and are being paid single salary per month when similar grade employees are getting up to triple salary per month. Secretary Finance Wajid Ali Rana requested the committee that they should propose removal of distortion in salary structure of federal employees and Ministry would implement such recommendations when Dr Ishrat Hussain Committee would submit its report.