Salary & Concessions for a Member of National Assembly (MNA)
Monthly Salary: Rs. 120,000 to 200,000 - US$ 1977 - 3295
Expense for Constitution per month: Rs.100,000 - US$ 1647
Office expenditure per month: Rs.140,000 - US$ 2306
Travelling concession (Rs. 8 per km): Rs.48,000 - US$ 791 (For a visit to ISLAMABAD & return: 6000 km)
Daily BETA during Assembly meets: Rs.500 - US$ 8.24
Charge for 1st class (A/C) in train: Free (For any number of times & All over PAKISTAN)
Charge for Business Class in flights: Free for 40 trips / Year (With wife or P.A.)
Rent for Govt hostel any where: Free
Electricity costs at home: Free up to 50,000 units
Local phone call charge: Free up to 1, 70,000 call.
TOTAL expense for a MNA per year: Rs. 32,000,000 - US$ 527,182
TOTAL expense for 5 years: Rs. 1, 6000 000 - US$ 263,591
For 534 MNA, the expense for 5 years: Rs. 8,54,40,000, 000 ( about 9000 crores) - US$ 1.4 Billion
Need I say more? Is this the 'true essence' of democracy stated by our leader, General Pervez Musharraf ? Or is this an implementation of the 'Sub Say Pehlay Pakistan - Pakistan Comes First' policy ? Today, we stand at a point where the masses of Pakistan are disappointed with the system and believe that nothing can bring a change in Pakistan. The MNAs of our assembly, either in opposition or government, all sing to the same tune of bringing 'real democracy' in Pakistan.
According to my opinion, that will not happen until the system is changed. President Musharraf, being in Army uniform, was the only man who could have done that. But, unfortunately he also did not show enough resolve and character to bring about a new political system. The army is indeed the most powerful institution in Pakistan. Therefore, everyone hoped that if a change is ever possible, it is only through the man who heads the most powerful institution. All what was required from the President was to establish an independent judiciary. This would have automatically filtered the MNAs of today who for the last 15 years or so, have been sitting at the assembly, except with different masks ie. PML(N) , PPP, PML(Q), PPPP . Before it was the Chowdhary Shujaat under the umbrella of PML- Nawaz. Today, it is the same Chowdhary under the PML - Quaid e Azam.
To conclude, until the judiciary of Pakistan is not made independent the system will always fail us. Furthermore, a change in Pakistan will come only when these disappointed masses or 'awam' of Pakistan stand up and make their voices heard. It will happen when the 'silent' majority of Pakistan which never votes, will cast their votes in the electoral process. When that will happen is a million dollar question left to be answered.
P.S. - The statistics for NA expenditure was forwarded to me by a very dear friend who works for a major news channel in Pakistan. His attachment with government circles has enabled me to provide this information.
Monthly Salary: Rs. 120,000 to 200,000 - US$ 1977 - 3295
Expense for Constitution per month: Rs.100,000 - US$ 1647
Office expenditure per month: Rs.140,000 - US$ 2306
Travelling concession (Rs. 8 per km): Rs.48,000 - US$ 791 (For a visit to ISLAMABAD & return: 6000 km)
Daily BETA during Assembly meets: Rs.500 - US$ 8.24
Charge for 1st class (A/C) in train: Free (For any number of times & All over PAKISTAN)
Charge for Business Class in flights: Free for 40 trips / Year (With wife or P.A.)
Rent for Govt hostel any where: Free
Electricity costs at home: Free up to 50,000 units
Local phone call charge: Free up to 1, 70,000 call.
TOTAL expense for a MNA per year: Rs. 32,000,000 - US$ 527,182
TOTAL expense for 5 years: Rs. 1, 6000 000 - US$ 263,591
For 534 MNA, the expense for 5 years: Rs. 8,54,40,000, 000 ( about 9000 crores) - US$ 1.4 Billion
Need I say more? Is this the 'true essence' of democracy stated by our leader, General Pervez Musharraf ? Or is this an implementation of the 'Sub Say Pehlay Pakistan - Pakistan Comes First' policy ? Today, we stand at a point where the masses of Pakistan are disappointed with the system and believe that nothing can bring a change in Pakistan. The MNAs of our assembly, either in opposition or government, all sing to the same tune of bringing 'real democracy' in Pakistan.
According to my opinion, that will not happen until the system is changed. President Musharraf, being in Army uniform, was the only man who could have done that. But, unfortunately he also did not show enough resolve and character to bring about a new political system. The army is indeed the most powerful institution in Pakistan. Therefore, everyone hoped that if a change is ever possible, it is only through the man who heads the most powerful institution. All what was required from the President was to establish an independent judiciary. This would have automatically filtered the MNAs of today who for the last 15 years or so, have been sitting at the assembly, except with different masks ie. PML(N) , PPP, PML(Q), PPPP . Before it was the Chowdhary Shujaat under the umbrella of PML- Nawaz. Today, it is the same Chowdhary under the PML - Quaid e Azam.
To conclude, until the judiciary of Pakistan is not made independent the system will always fail us. Furthermore, a change in Pakistan will come only when these disappointed masses or 'awam' of Pakistan stand up and make their voices heard. It will happen when the 'silent' majority of Pakistan which never votes, will cast their votes in the electoral process. When that will happen is a million dollar question left to be answered.
P.S. - The statistics for NA expenditure was forwarded to me by a very dear friend who works for a major news channel in Pakistan. His attachment with government circles has enabled me to provide this information.
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