LHC raises child maintenance to Rs30,000 per child a month

The Lahore High Court (LHC) has increased the monthly maintenance payable for minor children from Rs20,000 to Rs30,000 per child, according to ProPakistani and Nawa-i-Waqt.

ProPakistani reported that Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani issued the ruling on a petition filed by a woman who wanted higher maintenance for her minor children. The court also set a 10 percent annual increase in maintenance, to be calculated from 2019.

The court directed the trial court to work out the outstanding payments in line with this annual increase.

The petitioner argued that the children's father is a British citizen and can afford higher payments. The father claimed that his monthly income in the United Kingdom is between £500 and £600.

The court said that living in the UK does not by itself establish a person's actual income. It said the father's financial capacity must be assessed on the nature of his work, his employment details and the evidence available.

The ruling added that a claim of limited income cannot be accepted without documentary proof, such as salary slips.

The LHC referred to an earlier Supreme Court ruling stating that a father's duty to support his children financially continues after divorce, whether or not the children live with their mother. The court said maintenance must be decided by considering the children's education, upbringing and basic needs, along with the father's financial capacity.

The court also upheld earlier orders that gave the mother Rs15,000 in monthly maintenance during her iddat period and Rs280,000 as compensation for dowry items.