The Punjab Assembly is in a festive mood as MPs and ministers receive enormous pay increases.

An important step was taken on Monday when the Punjab Assembly approved a bill raising the wages of august house members from Rs76,000 to Rs400,000.

More significantly, pay for provincial ministers will increase from Rs100,000 to an astounding Rs960,000 with the bill’s passage.

The Speaker will receive a pay raise from Rs125,000 to Rs950,000 after the approval.

While parliamentary secretaries will now earn Rs451,000 instead of Rs83,000, the deputy speaker’s salary has been increased from Rs120,000 to Rs775,000.

The pay for advisers and special assistants will also increase from Rs100,000 to Rs665,000 upon the bill’s ratification, from Rs100,000 to Rs665,000, respectively.

The bill is scheduled to take effect on January 1, 2025, according to sources. The members of the legislature were overwhelmingly in favor of the salary hike bill passing.

Members were spotted applauding one another and thrilled after receiving the official nod.

Ahmed Khan Bhachar, the Punjab Assembly’s opposition leader, however, objected to the bill, questioning if it complied with the 1972 Parliamentary Rules Act.

While applauding the administration for the rise, Speaker Malik Ahmed Khan claimed that the bill was fully compliant with current legislation.

The bill’s “statement of objects and reasons” stated that “in the current circumstances, the emoluments drawn by them are very low and inadequate, and an increase in their salaries was made in 2019.”

“The benefits, including salaries and allowances, of the Speaker, Deputy Speaker, Members of the Provincial Assembly, Parliamentary Secretaries, Advisors, Special Assistants, and Ministers are governed by their respective laws, and every time a revision in their perks was needed, relevant laws were required to be amended by the Assembly,” the statement added.