ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari has opted not to receive his salary from the government amidst the ongoing economic challenges facing the country.
The President’s Secretariat Press Wing, in a statement released on Tuesday, conveyed this decision, emphasizing President Zardari’s desire to promote responsible financial management within the nation.
“The President deemed it necessary to alleviate the burden on the national exchequer and has chosen to waive his salary,” the statement elaborated.
A message posted on the President of Pakistan’s account on X (formerly Twitter) further elucidated his rationale behind this significant gesture.
“The primary objective of President Asif Zardari’s decision is to advocate for responsible financial governance in the country,” the post affirmed, highlighting the president’s counsel against imposing strain on the national treasury by forgoing his salary.
President Zardari, who secured victory as the 14th president of the country by a substantial margin on March 9, was sworn in as head of state a day later.
During the swearing-in ceremony held at Aiwan-e-Sadr in Islamabad, Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Qazi Faez Isa administered the oath to the newly-elected president.
Zardari, who stood as the joint candidate of the ruling alliance, clinched his second term as the country’s president after defeating the PTI-backed Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) candidate Mahmood Khan Achakzai by a significant margin.
This marks Zardari’s second presidency, following his previous tenure as the 11th president of Pakistan from 2008 to 2013. He has been a member of the National Assembly of Pakistan since August 2018.
Born in 1955, Zardari received his upbringing and education in Karachi. He was married to Benazir Bhutto, the daughter of Pakistan’s former prime minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, who was assassinated in December 2007.
Zardari has succeeded Dr. Arif Alvi, who extended his tenure in office for an additional five months despite completing his five-year term in September 2023.
(Islamabad51_Newsdesk)
