Islamabad, March 22 (NationPress) The government of Pakistan, led by Shehbaz Sharif, which initially made bold assertions regarding austerity measures and curtailing expenses, has sanctioned an astonishing 188% increase in the salaries of cabinet ministers, state ministers, and advisors.

This significant reversal occurs amidst a severe financial crisis in the country, where the workforce is already grappling with burdensome taxation, job losses, soaring inflation, and escalating costs of fuel and electricity.

According to the recent announcement, ministers and advisors will now receive Rs 519,000 per month.

Despite urging citizens to limit their spending due to excessive taxes and emphasizing that the nation is in a recovery phase, this 188% salary hike raises serious doubts regarding the government's priorities.

This latest salary increase follows a similar adjustment made two months prior, when the Finance Committee of the National Assembly aligned the salaries and allowances of all Members of the National Assembly (MNAs) and Senators with those of federal secretaries.

Recently, Prime Minister Sharif expanded his federal cabinet to 51 members from an initial count of 21, which was later increased to 43.

"First they claim about the need for austerity and belt-tightening and what not, claim that they would not pack their cabinet with ministers and advisors, and later on do this. Skinning us all with taxes, job losses and inflation, and blatantly towering up the number of cabinet members plus then giving them a 188% salary raise is just not done," said a local resident in Islamabad.

"I do not think anything else can be more open, blatant, vexingly blunt to make claims and promises first and then brush everything under the carpet by enforcing such decisions. It is just baffling," added another local, criticizing Shehbaz Sharif.

Notably, as per Article 92 of the Constitution, no more than one-fourth of federal ministers and state ministers can be from the Senate, and the total size of the cabinet cannot exceed 11% of the total parliamentary membership. Currently, the National Assembly comprises 336 members, while the Senate has 96 members, totaling 432. This implies that the federal cabinet members, including federal ministers and state ministers, should not surpass 47 or 48.