Islamabad: The National Assembly has dismissed over 200 employees as part of cost-cutting measures while simultaneously approving a nearly 300% salary increase for Members of Parliament (MPs), according to official documents.
The National Assembly Secretariat, in its annual report at the end of the parliamentary year, stated that 220 employees were terminated in two phases of a "rightsizing" initiative aimed at saving Rs 1 billion annually.
Under the leadership of Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, the National Assembly's Finance Committee approved multiple policy measures to enhance the secretariat's operations. The first two phases focused on eliminating unnecessary positions from Grade 1 to 19, resulting in cost reductions exceeding Rs 563 million. A third phase of reforms is now being initiated to achieve the targeted Rs 1 billion in annual savings.
In the first phase, 90 redundant positions were cut, leading to an annual saving of Rs 255.8 million. The second phase eliminated 130 positions, reducing expenses by Rs 37.5 million. However, the report does not mention the recent increase in MPs' salaries, which were raised from Rs 180,000 to Rs 519,000. It remains unclear how this pay hike aligns with the expected savings from the rightsizing initiative. The report, however, claims that the layoffs are part of broader efforts to streamline operations and ensure financial stability.
The report also highlights a record number of legislative measures passed by the 16th National Assembly in its first year. The Assembly approved 40 government bills and 11 private members' bills, with 36 government-sponsored and six private members' bills becoming law. However, an analysis by the Pakistan Institute of Legislative Development and Transparency (PILDAT) suggests that many of these laws were rushed through without proper review or committee scrutiny.
The National Assembly Secretariat also discussed the 2024-25 budget, which was passed after "detailed deliberations and amendments suggested by MPs." However, a PILDAT report from last year claimed that the government had rejected all amendments proposed by opposition members in the Finance Bill 2024.
One of the most significant legislative milestones mentioned in the report is the passage of the 26th Constitutional Amendment Bill, aimed at judicial reforms and strengthening parliamentary supremacy. Other key laws include the Digital Nation Pakistan Act 2025, designed to enhance the country's digital economy, and the Prevention of Electronic Crimes (Amendment) Act 2025, which updates cybersecurity and digital crime regulations.
Beyond legislative achievements, the National Assembly made significant strides in improving its administrative efficiency and accountability. Speaker Ayaz Sadiq initiated efforts to digitize parliamentary functions.
The report also highlights Speaker Ayaz Sadiq’s foreign visits aimed at fostering parliamentary cooperation. These include attending the 148th Inter-Parliamentary Union in Geneva and visits to Minsk, Belarus, Russia, and Hungary, where he emphasized the role of democracy, peace, and the rule of law in global development. He reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to peaceful negotiations and underscored the importance of parliamentary friendship groups in strengthening international cooperation. The Speaker also expressed deep concern over violence in Gaza, condemning Israel’s actions as war crimes and crimes against humanity.
In October 2024, Pakistan hosted the 45th annual forum of parliamentarians, bringing over 46 foreign lawmakers to the country. The event, chaired by Speaker Ayaz Sadiq, focused on global challenges such as human rights violations, access to clean water, and conflict resolution, highlighting the critical role of parliamentarians in addressing these issues.
Other notable visitors to the Parliament House last year included Sheikh Dr. Salah Muhammad Al-Budair, the Imam of Masjid Al-Nabawi, and renowned Islamic scholar Dr. Zakir Naik.
Pakistan also hosted the first Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians (CWP) workshop on legislative drafting, attended by female lawmakers from Commonwealth nations. The event provided a platform to discuss best practices, legal frameworks, and strategies for promoting gender equality and women’s empowerment through legislation.
