Karachi’s Town Chairmen Earn PKR 50,000 Monthly, Reveals Munim Zafar
KARACHI – Social activist Munim Zafar has shed light on the salaries and financial struggles of local government representatives in Karachi during a recent podcast with host Ayaz Samoo.
Zafar revealed that the monthly salary of a town chairman in Karachi is around PKR 50,000, a figure that surprised many listeners who often assume government officials enjoy lavish perks and lifestyles.
Addressing public perceptions about luxury cars often seen with local leaders, Zafar clarified that only town chairmen receive official vehicles. In contrast, Union Council (UC) chairmen and councillors are not entitled to such privileges.
He further highlighted the limited financial resources of UCs, explaining that until 2024, each UC received just PKR 500,000 under the Octroi Tax share. With nine staff members per UC, nearly the entire amount—between PKR 450,000 and 475,000—was spent on salaries, leaving a meagre PKR 25,000 for development work.
Zafar credited Jamaat-e-Islami for playing a key role in increasing the Octroi Tax share to PKR 1.2 million, a change that has allowed councils to fund essential projects such as installing streetlights and repairing broken sewer covers.
The discussion offered a rare insight into the financial constraints faced by Karachi’s local government, highlighting the gap between public expectations and the limited capacity of municipal administrations.
Meanwhile, in a separate development, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) government recently announced that salaries of public and semi-government employees would be deducted to help fund relief efforts for flood-affected communities.
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