PML-N MNA Calls for Rs1 Million Monthly Salary for Parliamentarians
ISLAMABAD:Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Member of the National Assembly Shamaela Rana has expressed concerns over the salaries and financial benefits available to parliamentarians, saying that it has become impossible to manage expenses on a monthly salary of Rs520,000.
In an interview, Shamaela Rana said the current salary was insufficient considering the expenses faced by members of parliament. She claimed that parliamentarians did not receive additional facilities from the government or Parliament, including official accommodation, vehicles or government drivers.
“I am currently on a diet, so I am able to save some money,” she said in a candid remark. She added that without dieting and with normal food expenses, it would be extremely difficult to make ends meet on the existing salary.
Keeping in view the prevailing economic situation, Rana said the monthly salary of members of the assembly should be increased to at least **Rs1 million**.
Discussing her family and political background, the PML-N leader recalled her mother’s political sacrifices. She said her mother had been involved in grassroots politics, participated in numerous rallies and demonstrations, endured hardships and spent time in jail.
She further said her mother had even crossed the gate of the Governor House during the democratic struggle, adding that “there is no room for compassion in the heart of politics.”
Speaking about the country’s overall political situation and the future of democracy, Shamaela Rana warned that political leadership and state institutions would have to demonstrate the utmost seriousness.
She stressed the need to strengthen and stabilize Pakistan’s democratic and administrative systems while ensuring that the system did not become completely derailed in the process.
