PM’s Perks & Privileges

The laws regarding the facilities and benefits provided to the PM, ministers are well laid out

The prime ministers in Pakistan enjoy several perks and privileges when they are in office, but have to immediately forego almost all of those benefits as soon as their term expires or they are removed from the hot seat for any reason.

As per rules, the prime ministers – when no more in office – have to immediately forfeit some privileges while they are allowed a specified time stipulated in the relevant laws.

When the prime minister’s term at the office ends, the federal cabinet is also deprived of its perks and privileges.

Sheikh Aftab, the ex-Federal Minister for Parliamentary Affairs in the previous PML-N government, said that all the privileges enjoyed by the prime minister and the ministers have to be returned as soon as their term expires. “There are laws regarding the benefits provided to the prime minister and the ministers, and the procedures to return of the facilities are well laid out.”

“Apart from the law, there are certain privileges which are given under certain traditions and conditions.

Monthly Salary and Allowances

In Pakistan, a prime minister’s monthly salary and other allowances are paid in accordance with the law enacted in 1975. As per the information received from reliable sources, former Prime Minister Imran Khan used to receive a total monthly salary of Rs 1,96,979.

The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) federal government had planned to increase the the PM’s salary by further amending the law in 2020. However, Imran Khan rejected the proposal.

PM’s house and office

Among the imposing buildings on Islamabad’s Shahra-e-Dustur is the Prime Minister House which is used by the country’s chief executive as both, his office and his residence.

The office wing in the 800-kanal PM House is the portion used for official functions, while the family wing is used as the prime minister’s residence.

According to a senior official of the Prime Minister House, ex-PM Imran Khan proved to be different in this regard.

The official claimed that neither Imran Khan nor any member of his family ever used the family wing of the Prime Minister House.

A government official revealed that Imran Khan used to come to the office wing at the PM House in the morning for official proceedings, but left for his house at Bani Gala in the evening.

However, a day after his removal as the country’s PM, Imran Khan stopped coming to the office wing of the Prime Minister House.

pertinent to mention here that the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief had promised to convert the Prime Minister House into a university before coming into power, a promise he could not fulfill in his three- and-a-half-year tenure.

Luxury cars

A senior PM House official said that former Prime Minister Imran Khan used to drive a BMW X5 for personal use, in which he used to travel between home and office and other places.

However, he said that according to the protocol, the  prime minister of Pakistan never leaves his home or office alone but with full protocol comprising a motorcade which includes the PM’s car as well as of his staff and the security vehicles.

According to Sheikh Aftab, there is a time limit of 15 days for the return of the Prime Minister’s personal vehicle after his stepping down from the office.

interesting to note that during the rule of former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, more than 50 vehicles which were purchased for the Prime Minister House were auctioned by Imran Khan after he came to power.

Security and protocol

In response to a question in the National Assembly a few years ago, the government had informed the House that no less than 400 personnel from various security agencies were stationed at Imran Khan’s private residence (Bani Gala). The same is the situation at the private residence of Mian Shehbaz Sharif.

Similarly, the prime minister is surrounded by tight security on his way out of the house or office, which is  part of the protocol.

Similarly, in case of a visit of the Prime Minister to any part of the country, the administration of the district concerned must be present there, which adds to the prestige of the Chief Executive.

Other benefits

According to the law, the Prime Minister of Pakistan and his family can get railway saloon, river craft, air plane and government cars for their personal use.

Similarly, the government will provide every facility of treatment to the Prime Minister of Pakistan and his family members, while the chief executive is also exempted from certain taxes.

Gifts

Tosha Khana is a state-owned department run by the Cabinet Division, the main purpose of which is to store the gifts from abroad, presented to the president, prime minister, ministers and MNS.

Government officials can buy gifts from abroad by paying a certain amount in the treasury.

Both Nawaz Sharif and Yousaf Raza Gilani misused their authority during their prime ministership tenures and are facing cases at the National Accountability Bureau in that reference.

During the three-year rule of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), its government officials were accused of buying cheap items from the treasury and a case in this regard is also pending at the Islamabad High Court.