Pakistan president, interior minister announce to forgo salary

President Asif Ali Zardari has decided not to take a salary from the government owing to the economic challenges being faced by the country.

His decision was announced via a statement by the President Secretariat Press Wing on Tuesday (March 12).

“He took this decision to encourage prudent financial management in the country. The President considered it essential not to burden the national exchequer and preferred to forgo his salary,” the statement read.

“The purpose of President Asif Zardari’s decision is to encourage prudent financial management in the country,” according to a post by the President of Pakistan account on X, formerly Twitter.

President Zardari, who was elected as the 14th president of the country with a big margin on March 9, took oath as the head of state a day later.

Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Qazi Faez Isa administered the oath to the newly-elected president at the swearing-in ceremony that took place at the Aiwan-e-Sadr in Islamabad.

After the President Asif Ali Zardari, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi also decides to forgo salary in the challenging times.

Taking to X, formerly known as twitter, newly sworn-in Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi announced not to take his salary in view of the challenging times faced by the country.

The former caretaker Punjab chief minister, in the social media post, said he was honoured to serve the nation as federal minister of interior and narcotics.

He further wrote: “Decided to forgo my salary during this tenure. In these challenging times, committed to supporting and serving our nation in every possible way.”

(With inputs from agencies)