Muzaffarabad: Chaudhry Basharat, Secretary of the Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Assembly Committee, has proposed increasing the salaries of the Speaker, ministers, and members of the AJK Assembly to match those of the Pakistan’s Punjab Assembly. In his proposal, Chaudhry Basharat stated that an additional budget of Rs. 45 crore, 38 lakh, and 40 thousand would be required to implement this change.
According to the proposal, the salaries and allowances of AJK (Pakistani administered Kashmir) Legislative Assembly members were last increased in 2014, when the basic salary of an assembly member was Rs. 45,000. In today’s era of inflation, this amount is considered extremely insufficient.
Chaudhry Basharat highlighted that the salaries of members of the National Assembly, Senate, and Punjab Provincial Assembly in Pakistan have recently been increased in line with inflation. Since the AJK Assembly is considered equal in status to the Punjab Assembly, the salaries of AJK Assembly members should also be brought on par with those of Punjab Assembly members.
The proposal outlines that in Punjab, the salary of an assembly member has been increased from Rs. 76,000 to Rs. 400,000, while the salary of ministers has been raised from Rs. 100,000 to Rs. 900,000. Similarly, the Speaker’s salary has been increased from Rs. 125,000 to Rs. 950,000.
Additionally, the Deputy Speaker’s salary has been raised from Rs. 100,000 to Rs. 775,000. Salaries of advisors, special assistants, and parliamentary secretaries have also been adjusted accordingly. Chaudhry Basharat emphasized that since the AJK Assembly holds equal status to the Punjab Assembly, the salaries of AJK Assembly members should be increased to match those of Punjab Assembly members.
Sources indicate that the matter will be presented in the next cabinet meeting. Once approved by the cabinet, it will be tabled in the AJK Assembly for further discussion and implementation.
