National Assembly Standing Committee on Parliamentary Affairs has recommended increase in the development funds for a Parliamentarian from Rs 20 million to Rs 50 million to meet the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). The Committee also recommended increase in salaries and allowances of the members of the National Assembly and Senate and it should be defined equal to the sixteen schedule of warrant of precedent. For this purpose, the Committee also decided to write letters of Ministry of Finance and Cabinet Division.
The Committee met with Mian Abdul Mannan in the chair at Parliament House on Monday. The Committee discussed the issues of monetization of free travelling allowance for the Parliamentarians and the provision of development funds for women reserved seats in the National Assembly. The Committee recommended that Members salaries and allowances should be defined equal to the sixteen schedule of warrant of precedent. The Committee decided to call Ministry of Interior in the next meeting of the Committee because matter with regard to warrant of precedent is in the ambit of Ministry of Interior.
Committee Chairman Mian Abdul Mannan said that the salary of the Prime Minister is Rs 142000 while the salary of his Principal Secretary is Rs more than Rs 400000. He said that salary of the President of Pakistan is Rs 142000 while salary of his Principal Secretary is more than Rs 400000. He said that the salary of the Speaker National Assembly is roundabout Rs 142000 while the salary of Secretary National Assembly Mohammad Riaz is more than Rs 300000. The Committee Chairman said that the amount of MDGs fund has been increased from Rs 12 billion to Rs 20 billion.
The Committee members were informed by the Secretary Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs that Ministry of Finance & Revenue has already amended Section 10 of the Member of the Parliament (Salaries and Allowances) Act, 1974 to some extent that the limitations of utilising vouchers worth Rs 300,000/- for the words 'within Pakistan' had been omitted. Consequently, the vouchers under Section 10 referred to above are acceptable for travelling abroad as well.
The Committee recommended that a letter will be forwarded to Pakistan International Airlines Management for issuance of International tickets against MCOs and vouchers by the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs. The Committee Chairman said that funds should be given to women reserved seats of the National Assembly under MDGs for the development of their areas.
The Committee Chairman also severely criticized media anchor persons and said that they are dividing the nation at a critical time when the country is facing the challenge of terrorism. He said that the military is fighting war against terrorism and the whole nation is standing behind it. He said that a program host of a private TV channel often used derogatory and unethical language about the Parliamentarians. If he is so worried, he should contest the election, Mannan said. The Committee recommended that Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) representative will be called in the next meeting for briefing on electoral reforms.
Meeting was attended by Sardar Ashiq Hussain Gopang, Dr Nisar Ahmad Jatt, Sheikh Muhammad Akram, Azhar Qayyum Nahra, Rasheed Ahmad Khan, Ms Shahjehan Munir Mangrio, Mrs Shahida Rehmani, Salim Rehman, MNAs and senior officers from Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs.