Pakistani ministers get 188% pay hike, while citizens struggle to make ends meet
New Delhi, 5 May 2025
While millions of Pakistani citizens reel under historic inflation, unemployment, and soaring utility bills, their political leaders have awarded themselves a staggering 188% salary hike.
The “Federal Minister and Minister of State (Salaries, Allowances and Privileges) Amendment Ordinance, 2025,” which formalizes the pay increase for federal and state ministers, was signed by Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari, on Sunday. The new order raises their monthly salaries from PKR 200,000 to PKR 519,000 for federal ministers, and from PKR 180,000 to the same amount for state ministers and advisers.
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The decision comes at a time when ordinary Pakistanis are facing their worst economic crisis in decades. The nation is dealing with crushing costs of living, ongoing power outages, and record-breaking inflation that has made it difficult for even middle-class households to pay for everyday necessities. The government continues to seek foreign bailouts to stay solvent, and the cost of food and gasoline has skyrocketed.
Despite this dire economic landscape, Pakistan’s ruling class has not hesitated to increase its own perks. Earlier this year, the Parliament had already passed the “Members of Parliament (Salaries and Allowances) Amendment Bill, 2025”, raising MPs’ salaries by 138% — from PKR 218,000 to PKR 519,000 per month. That bill, too, passed without opposition, suggesting broad political consensus on self-benefit even amid a national crisis.
The latest ministerial pay hike was approved by the federal cabinet on March 21 and received the final nod from the president this month. The original proposal was cleared during a January 26 meeting of the National Assembly’s Finance Committee, chaired by Ayaz Sadiq.
Public reaction has been swift and angry. Many citizens see the hike as a tone-deaf decision at a time when families are lining up for subsidized wheat, businesses are shutting down due to energy shortages, and joblessness is rising. Social media platforms in Pakistan are filled with criticism of the political class for prioritizing its own comfort over the welfare of the people.
The timing has also drawn attention internationally, especially as India-Pakistan relations have grown tense following the terrorist attack in Pahalgam. While India intensifies diplomatic efforts to isolate those who shelter terrorism, Pakistan’s internal priorities include enriching its elite amid widespread suffering.
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