Bill prepared: CM Punjab, ministers to receive full salary during holidays

The Chief Minister and ministers of Punjab will soon receive payment while on leave, as a summary of an amendment to the law has been prepared, reported 24NewsHD TV channel on Friday.

According to the channel report, this amendment proposes providing leave allowance on the same pattern as that of parliamentary advisors in Punjab. 

Following a recommendation from the Punjab Assembly Secretariat, the Law Department drafted the amendment bill and sent it to the Chief Minister of Punjab for approval.

After recent salary increases, it has been proposed to equalise leave privileges across these high offices. 

Plans are underway to grant the chief minister, the ministers, the speaker, and the deputy speaker the legal right to receive equal salary during their leave periods. 

Additionally, the scope of salary and allowances on official holidays will be expanded through this legal change, with a bill for full salary and allowance on official holidays currently awaiting approval.

Under the Punjab Advisors (Salary, Allowances and Privileges) Ordinance, 2002, parliamentary advisors already receive leave allowance equivalent to their full salary. 

This means they receive their regular monthly salary even while on leave. 

Intriguingly, the Chief Minister has the authority to grant leave of absence for up to three months at a time for urgent reasons.

Media reports indicate that advisors are receiving their full salary of nearly one million rupees per month during their leave. 

It is important to note that the Punjab Assembly holds the authority to determine the salaries and allowances of its members and other parliamentary functionaries.

Reporter: Ali Ramey