Karachi – The Sindh Assembly has unanimously passed a bill approving significant increases in the salaries and allowances of its members, granting a wide range of perks and benefits to both government and opposition lawmakers alike.

The bill, tabled by Sindh Minister for Law and Parliamentary Affairs Zia-ul-Hassan Lanjar, was presented during yesterday’s assembly session chaired by Speaker Syed Owais Qadir Shah. The session, notable for its legislative productivity, saw the approval of three important bills in total, all introduced by the Law Minister.

During the proceedings, Zia-ul-Hassan Lanjar moved the proposal to revise and enhance the pay scales and allowances for members of the Sindh Assembly. The bill went through the necessary stages of debate and approval, and in a rare display of unity, received the unanimous support of all members present in the house.

The Sindh Cabinet had already given its consent to the draft on August 7 during a cabinet meeting. With cabinet approval secured, the bill’s passage through the assembly marks the final legislative step, making it law and paving the way for implementation.

Under the new law, members from both the ruling and opposition benches will equally benefit from the revised pay and allowance structure. The legislation is not limited to just basic salary increases but extends to a broad package of perks designed to cover various aspects of members’ personal and professional needs.

The approved list of allowances includes:

• Hospitality Allowance – covering costs for hosting guests and official gatherings.
• House Rent Allowance – assisting members with accommodation expenses.
• Utility Allowance – providing support for electricity, water, and gas bills.
• Daily Allowance – covering daily expenses while performing legislative duties.
• Conveyance Allowance – for transportation within the city.
• Accommodation Allowance – for stay arrangements when away from their home constituencies.
• Travelling Allowance – for official trips within and outside the province.
• Mileage Allowance – based on the distance traveled for official work.
• Free Travel Facility – providing access to certain modes of transportation without cost.
• Telephone Facility – ensuring communication resources are available for official purposes.
• Medical Facilities – covering healthcare expenses for members and their dependents.
• Office Maintenance Allowance – to manage and maintain their constituency or legislative offices.
• Other Allowances as Recommended – granting flexibility for future additions if suggested by any parliamentary committee of the Sindh Assembly.

The bill’s supporters argue that these benefits are essential to ensure members can perform their legislative and representative duties without financial constraints, especially in the face of rising living costs and the need for greater constituency engagement. Proponents further claim that adequate allowances enable lawmakers to maintain necessary public interaction, travel extensively for outreach, and host community gatherings without personal financial strain.

However, political observers note that such salary and allowance increases often draw public scrutiny, especially during periods of economic pressure on ordinary citizens. While the bill sailed through the assembly without any dissenting votes, some analysts believe the broader public may question whether improving lawmakers’ perks should be prioritized over more pressing development and welfare expenditures.

The unanimous nature of the decision also reflects a rare moment of cross-party consensus in the Sindh Assembly, which is otherwise frequently marked by partisan debates. The fact that both government and opposition members will enjoy equal benefits under the legislation appears to have helped bridge political divides in this particular instance.

For now, the passage of this bill marks a substantial shift in the compensation framework for Sindh’s legislators. Implementation will begin once the provincial government issues the relevant notifications, and members will start receiving the revised salaries and allowances in upcoming pay cycles.

With the law in effect, Sindh’s lawmakers are now entitled to one of the most comprehensive packages of legislative perks in the country, covering everything from basic salary adjustments to extensive travel, hospitality, and healthcare benefits. The long list of facilities underscores the provincial assembly’s view that its members require robust support systems to carry out their responsibilities — though whether this perspective aligns with public sentiment will likely become clear in the weeks ahead.