Pakistani PM and cabinet ministers voluntarily forgo salaries amid economic crisis

Islamabad: Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and his Cabinet members have unanimously agreed to waive their salaries and related benefits in light of the country's precarious economic situation.

The decision was made during a Cabinet meeting as part of the government's austerity policies aimed at reducing unnecessary expenditures.

The Cabinet has also implemented measures to restrict foreign trips funded by the government, directing federal ministers, parliamentarians, and government officials to refrain from using government funds for foreign travel without prior approval.

These initiatives are focused on promoting fiscal responsibility and optimizing governmental resources in response to economic challenges, as Pakistan seeks a new loan from the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

Last week, President Asif Ali Zardari and Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi had also announced their decision to forgo their salaries while in office, citing similar reasons.

Former president Arif Alvi, who was drawing a monthly salary of ₹ 8,46,550, had previously made a similar decision in 2018. Asif Ali Zardari is known as one of the wealthiest politicians in Pakistan.

This move echoes a similar measure announced during Shehbaz Sharif's earlier term as prime minister in February 2023. However, critics argue that such gestures are merely cosmetic and do little to alleviate the economic hardships faced by the population, especially amidst soaring inflation.

In reality, the president, prime minister, and most ministers come from privileged backgrounds and are not reliant on their salaries for sustenance.

Coincidentally, on the same day, the IMF announced that it had reached a staff-level agreement with Pakistan, allowing the country to receive the next tranche of USD 1.1 billion from the previously sanctioned loan.