The federal cabinet has approved a significant increase in the salaries and allowances of cabinet members, with a salary hike of up to 188% for federal ministers, state ministers, and advisers.

The approval was granted through circulation.

According to sources, amendments were made to the 1975 Salaries and Allowances Act for federal ministers and state ministers.

With the new bill’s approval, the salary of a federal minister, state minister, and prime minister’s advisor will now be Rs519,000. Previously, federal ministers earned Rs200,000, while state ministers received Rs180,000.

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The salary of federal ministers has been increased by 159%, while the salaries of state ministers and advisors to the prime minister have risen by up to 188%.

These figures exclude additional perks such as allowances, official vehicles, and office expenses.

Sources revealed that this salary hike proposal was initially removed from the February 4 cabinet meeting agenda to avoid public and media backlash.

Notably, two months ago, the finance committee approved increasing the salaries and allowances of Members of the National Assembly (MNAs) and Senators to match those of federal secretaries.

Speaker Ayaz Sadiq led the National Assembly finance committee in unanimously approving the increase, setting MNAs’ and Senators’ salaries at Rs519,000.

Political parties, including the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), have supported the salary hike. Even 67 members of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) submitted a written request for the increase.

After all deductions, a federal secretary currently earns Rs519,000 monthly, with allowances and benefits now being extended to parliament members as well.