US State Department spokesperson, Matthew Miller, recently brushed off a question about the controversial salary hike for lawmakers in Punjab, Pakistan. On Monday, the Punjab Assembly passed the Punjab Revision of Salaries of Public Representatives Bill 2024, which dramatically raised the pay of provincial officials, with MPs seeing a 426% increase and ministers enjoying an 860% raise.
During a press briefing in Washington, a journalist questioned the ethics of such a significant pay rise in a nation struggling with widespread poverty. The query also referenced Pakistan’s Finance Minister recently seeking international loans. Miller responded by deflecting the issue, stating that salary decisions are a matter for Pakistan and its citizens, not the US. “We do not comment on the salaries of government employees in any country,” he said, emphasizing that the responsibility lies with the Pakistani government.
Despite the controversy, the bill passed with overwhelming support in Punjab’s assembly. While some opposition figures raised legal concerns, the Speaker assured that the bill fully adhered to existing laws, positioning it as a justified move by the provincial government.
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