President Asif Ali Zardari has promulgated an ordinance raising the monthly salaries of federal ministers and ministers of state to Rs519,000, aligning them with the recently increased salaries of Members of the National Assembly (MNAs). Previously, federal ministers earned Rs200,000 and ministers of state Rs180,000 per month. This adjustment follows the Members of Parliament Salaries and Allowances (Amendment) Bill 2025, passed in February, which elevated lawmakers’ salaries from Rs180,000 to Rs519,000. The ordinance amends the Federal Ministers and Ministers of State (Salaries, Allowances and Privileges) Act, 1975, ensuring parity between ministers and MNAs.
Additionally, President Zardari issued three other ordinances:
- Establishing the National Agri-trade and Food Safety Authority (NAFSA) to oversee sanitary and phytosanitary measures for imports and exports.
- Amending tax laws to facilitate the recovery of pending tax amounts tied up in litigation.
- Modifying the Capital Development Authority (CDA) regulations.
These developments coincide with the recent expansion of the federal cabinet, which doubled in size to 43 members, including 30 federal ministers, nine ministers of state, and four advisers. The majority of the new appointees are from the ruling PML-N party, with representation from allied parties as well.