The Chairman and members of the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) have reportedly raised their salaries by three times without seeking approval from the federal cabinet.
According to sources, this significant increase has caused a stir in political and regulatory circles.
Following the hike, the NEPRA Chairman’s total salary now stands at a staggering PKR 3.25 million, while the total salary for NEPRA members has surged to PKR 2.95 million.
Typically, the salaries of regulatory body officials, including the Chairman and members of NEPRA, are set per the MP-I scale. The basic salary under this scale generally ranges from PKR 629 thousand to PKR 772 thousand per month.
Additionally, these officials are entitled to housing allowances ranging from PKR 146 thousand to PKR 206 thousand and utility allowances of about PKR 35,000 per month.
According to the sources, the newly revised compensation package includes a basic salary ranging from PKR 700 thousand to PKR 773 thousand. Additionally, similar to the allowances granted to judges, NEPRA Chairman and members have secured a regulatory allowance of PKR 631 thousand to PKR 700 thousand per month.
While these reports have raised eyebrows, the NEPRA spokesperson has neither confirmed nor denied the salary hike.