At a time when Sindh’s public services are strained, inflation is biting and development priorities remain underfunded, the provincial assembly has chosen to unanimously pass a bill that increases the salaries and privileges of its members. The legislation, swiftly cleared by the provincial cabinet and now law, equalises perks for government and opposition lawmakers alike, covering hospitality, housing, utilities, travel, communication and medical facilities, in addition to extending official vehicles to parliamentary committee heads. Even the leader of the opposition will now enjoy the same benefits as a provincial minister.
That elected representatives across party lines can agree so readily on boosting their own comfort, while so many pressing issues languish unresolved, reflects a troubling consensus. Teachers and healthcare workers have repeatedly protested for fair wages and timely payments, often met with indifference. Flood rehabilitation remains incomplete in many districts, while education and health budgets fail to meet the province’s needs.
Yet, in this instance, lawmakers have shown remarkable urgency and unity. Public office is meant to be a trust, not a shortcut to personal privilege. Reasonable remuneration for legislators is justified, but increases should be tied to performance as well as the fiscal realities of the province. Sindh’s people expect their elected representatives to share in their hardships, not insulate themselves from them. Without a visible commitment to austerity, such self-awarded perks will only deepen people’s disillusionment with politics and confirm suspicions that when lawmakers come together, it is too often to serve themselves, not those they represent.
Any revision to lawmakers’ salaries should be preceded by reforms that directly benefit citizens. Moreover, an independent commission, not the lawmakers themselves, should determine any adjustments, aligning them with the province’s fiscal realities. Until then, the message from the assembly should be one of shared sacrifice, not self-indulgence.
