Chief Justice of Pakistan Qazi Faez Isa, proper, administers the oath of workplace to newly elected President Asif Ali Zardari throughout a ceremony on the Presidential Palace, in Islamabad, Pakistan on March 10, 2024.
| Photo Credit: AP
Pakistan’s newly-elected President Asif Ali Zardari on March 13 introduced that he would not draw any wage throughout his tenure as half of his bid to assist the cash-strapped nation face the difficult economic hardship.
Mr. Zardari, 68, who took oath as Pakistan’s 14th President on Sunday, determined to encourage prudent monetary administration and not burden the nationwide exchequer, his Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) stated in an announcement on X.
“The President considered it essential not to burden the national exchequer and preferred to forgo his salary,” President Secretariat Press Wing stated in a press launch on Tuesday.
Former president Arif Alvi was drawing Rs 8,46,550 monthly, which was mounted by Parliament in 2018. Mr. Zardari is one of the richest politicians in Pakistan.
Mr. Zardari, co-chairman of the PPP, took oath as President of Pakistan for a second time period at a ceremony at Aiwan-i-Sadr in Islamabad on Sunday.
Separately, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, following the steps of Mr. Zardari, additionally determined to forego his wage whereas in workplace citing the economic challenges confronted by the nation.
Taking to X, Mr. Naqvi stated that he dedicated to serving the nation in difficult instances “in every possible way”.
Mr. Naqvi stated that he has determined to forego his wage in the course of the tenure. “In these challenging times, committed to supporting and serving our nation in every possible way,” he said in an X post.
Debt-struck Pakistan has been reeling under economic pressure with the price of commodities touching sky-high prices.
The newly elected government needs a new loan from the International Monetary Fund on an urgent basis, and its politicians, who are often super-rich, use such tactics to win support from the impoverished masses.
In February last year, the Cabinet of then-prime minister Shehbaz Sharif gave up their salary and other perks to help the country tackle its possible default on external liabilities.
Addressing the maiden cabinet meeting after inducting 19 members on Monday, Prime Minister Sharif said that the first test of the cash-strapped country’s newly-elected government is to rein in inflation and prices of food items.
Mr. Sharif, who was elected for a second term on Sunday, said that bringing inflation under control is the biggest challenge, however, the government together with the provincial administrations would consider ways how to manage the prices of the essentials.
“This is our first test,” he said.
Mr. Sharif said Pakistan is facing massive challenges and a “deep surgery” is required to pull the cash-strapped country out of the economic crisis.
Taking stock of the issues and problems affecting the economy and the country, the Prime Minister asked his Cabinet members to “perform or perish”, saying that the time is “now or never”.
Mr. Sharif said the government should make difficult decisions without wasting any time. “Deep surgery is needed as antibiotics will not work,” he said.
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He directed the instant formation of a committee to management the costs of important meals objects.
He emphasised that strict motion can be taken towards unjustified worth will increase and profiteering in important commodities.
In response to a advice by the Ministry of Commerce, the Cabinet additionally accredited a restriction on the export of onions and bananas till the fifteenth of subsequent month.
