Islamabad (Web Desk): President Asif Ali Zardari has decided that he will not draw his presidential salary in view of the prevailing economic challenges.
According to a press release issued by the presidency on Tuesday, President Zardari 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 said.
Asif Ali Zardari assumed office as the 14th President of Pakistan on March 10.
As a joint presidential candidate of the ruling coalition, he defeated Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)-backed Sunni Ittehad Council’s (SIC) Mahmood Khan Achakzai on March 9.
Asif Ali Zardari is the first elected president of Pakistan, who succeeded in reaching the president office for a second time.
Earlier, he served as the 11th President of Pakistan from 2008 to 2013 and was the first politician to complete a full term in office.
Under 18th Amendment, he gave away the presidential powers to strengthen parliamentary democracy and bolstered provincial autonomy, and coined political reconciliation.
President Asif Ali Zardari, during his first term, also helped policies that encompassed freedom of media, revolutionized telecommunications, revived Pakistan's energy sector, opened Pakistan to foreign direct investment and strengthen state-owned enterprises.
The Pakistan Peoples party (PPP) government under his leadership got a consensus among all the political parties on the seventh National Finance Commission award which increased provinces' financial autonomy.
The PPP-led government also unveiled the Aghaz-i-Huqooq-i-Balochistan package aimed at fast track progress and development in the province.
To eradicate crippling polio disease from the country, President Asif Ali Zardari also launched Pakistan's National Emergency Action Plan 2011.