Islamabad: Speaker National Assembly (NA) has returned Rs 3 billion to national kitty in the financial year 2024-25 despite increase in the salaries of Members of National Assembly (MNAs).

According to NA sources, the NA budget for the current fiscal year 2024-25 was Rs 12.7 billion.

The overall expenses remained close to Rs 9.7 billion in the current financial year. Rs 3 billion were saved under speaker saving campaign. All unnecessary expenses were abolished and ban remained in place on purchase of new vehicles. New vehicles were not purchased for chairmen of standing committees despite their demand. No new appointments were made in NA secretariat. The unnecessary posts were abolished. Speaker NA curtailed the foreign visits of parliamentary delegations. He himself undertook such foreign visits where expenses were borne by host countries or institutions. Number of members of delegations were kept minimum in connection with foreign tours.

NA secretariat deposited the saved amount in national kitty before May 15.