HILE the average Pakistani is expected to carry the burden of austerity as he struggles to put food on the table, our lawmakers believe that their `exceptional` performance entitles them to a substantial pay raise on top of their considerable perks. A proposal by the National Assembly`s Finance Committee calling for hefty pay hikes for members of both Houses is currently with the prime minister. As per the details, lawmakers will see their monthly salaries jump from Rs180,000 to Rs519,000. The original suggestion had been to jack up remuneration to Rsim a month, but the NA speaker reportedly felt this may have been a tad too much. According to media reports, the last time our hardworking lawmakers received a raise was seven years ago. Obviously, inflation has been biting and the MNAs and senators sorely feel their compensation should reflect the tough economic realities of the day. They may also have been inspired by Punjab Assembly members who gave themselves fat raises last month. Oddly, while political parties are usually at each other`s throats, members from across the aisle have united to secure this key human right.

If Pakistan were a First World economy, and if our lawmakers had been delivering like their elected peers in developed democracies, this proposed pay raise could have been justified.

But we are struggling to stay solvent, while our lawmakers` output is far from stellar. And with the centre slashing government jobs in the name of rightsizing to meet IMF demands, how can such massive pay hikes be justified? Moreover, the minimum wage in Pakistan is Rs37,000 per month in most provinces; can the people`s representatives justify such hefty salaries when the working man is expected to survive on a meagre amount? It is not, of course, only the lawmakers who grant themselves gracious pay raises. Members of the bureaucracy, judiciary and the military are all compensated handsomely at the taxpayer`s expense through salaries as well as perks. But the people`s representatives need to set an example to show they care about the common Pakistani. A raise can be considered, but not such an unreasonable jump. Also, such pay raises should be part of the budget and not appear out of the blue.

The prime minister must do the right thing and ensure that any increase in the lawmakers` salary stays within reasonable bounds.