Pakistan, June 12 -- Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has taken serious notice of the sharp increase in salaries for the National Assembly speaker and Senate chairman. He has asked both leaders to explain the reasons behind this large pay raise. The prime minister will decide on the matter after receiving detailed reports from them. This move comes as the public demands more transparency about government spending.

The salary increase is steep, with the pay rising from Rs205,000 to Rs1.3 million monthly for the National Assembly speaker and Senate chairman. This hike is set to start from January 1, 2025, just before the federal budget announcement. Earlier, the government raised ministers' salaries by up to 140 percent and increased MNAs and...