Public Outrage as PM House Expenses Rise to Rs 860 Million Amid Economic Crunch
ISLAMABAD – In the recently announced federal budget for 2025-26, the Government of Pakistan has proposed an increase in the annual expenses of the Prime Minister House, taking it from Rs 720 million to approximately Rs 860 million — a move that has sparked widespread public criticism.
This increase comes at a time when the government is introducing nearly Rs 2 trillion in new taxes and urging the public for greater financial sacrifices amid a worsening economic crisis. With nearly half of the population living below the poverty line, critics have called the rise in high-level official spending “insensitive and disconnected from public suffering.”
According to the budget documents:
* Rs 90 million is allocated for vehicles at the PM House,
* Rs 14.4 million for the dispensary,
* Rs 44.8 million for landscaping and gardens,
* Rs 6 million for the PM’s travel, and
* Rs 4.2 million for charity under the PM’s name.
Furthermore, the budgets for federal ministers, advisers, and special assistants have also seen major hikes. The budget for federal ministers and ministers of state has been increased from Rs 270 million to over Rs 505 million, while the allocation for special assistants has been tripled to Rs 113 million.
The budget for the National Assembly has increased by 28%, reaching Rs 16.29 billion, while the Senate’s budget now stands at Rs 9.55 billion — up from Rs 7.24 billion last year.
Critics have questioned how leaders who cite European tax models fail to adopt the simplicity and fiscal discipline followed by European heads of state. They argue that without leading by example, the government’s calls for austerity from citizens lack credibility.
The growing gap between the ruling elite and the general public continues to erode trust, raising urgent questions about fiscal priorities in a time of national economic hardship.
