Pakistan’s new president Zardari declines to draw salary owing to nation’s poor economy

The Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) said in a statement on X that Zardari, 68, who became Pakistan’s 14th President Sunday, made the decision to promote responsible financial management rather than put additional strain on the public coffers.

President Secretariat Press Wing stated in a press release Tuesday that the President deemed it imperative to spare the national coffers and opted to forego his salary.

The monthly salary of former president Arif Alvi was fixed by Parliament in 2018. Zardari is one of the richest politicians in Pakistan.

Zardari, co-chairman of the PPP, took oath as President of Pakistan for a second term at a ceremony at Aiwan-i-Sadr in Islamabad on Sunday.

Separately, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, following the steps of Zardari, also decided to forego his salary while in office citing the economic challenges faced by the country.

Taking to X, Naqvi said that he committed to serving the nation in challenging times “in every possible way”.

Naqvi said that he has decided to forego his salary during the tenure. “In these challenging times, committed to supporting and serving our nation in every possible way, he said in an X post.

Debt-struck Pakistan has been reeling under economic pressure with the price of commodities touching sky-high prices.