Pakistan’s newly-elected President Asif Ali Zardari on Tuesday announced that he would not draw any salary during his tenure as part of his bid to help the country face economic hardship.

Zardari, 68, who took oath as Pakistan’s 14th President on Sunday, decided to encourage prudent financial management and not burden the national exchequer, his Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) said on X.

“The President considered it essential not to burden the national exchequer and preferred to forgo his salary,” President secretariat press wing said in a press release on Tuesday. Former President Arif Alvi was drawing Rs 8,46,550 per month, which was fixed by parliament in 2018. Zardari is one of the richest politicians in Pakistan. Zardari, PPP co-chairman, took oath as President for a second term at a ceremony in Islamabad on Sunday.

Separately, interior minister Mohsin Naqvi, following in Zardari’s steps, also decided to forego his salary while in office citing the economic challenges faced by the country.

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.