The federal government agreed to increase the wage packages of grade 1 to grade 19 employees by 15% on Wednesday, just hours before the employees were set to launch a protest rally, but omitted around a half-dozen departments that already have higher-than-standard pay packages.
The measure will narrow the salary gap between civil and military employees slightly, as the government gave all ranks of the armed forces a 15 percent pay boost in July last year, in addition to their special package.
Prime Minister Imran Khan also stated on Tuesday that the wages of paramilitary forces would be increased by 15%.
According to a late-night announcement by the Ministry of Finance, the government has agreed to provide impoverished personnel from Basic Pay Scale (BPS) 1 to 19 a 15% disparity allowance on running basic pay with effect from March 1. It was also advised that provinces adopt the same using their own funds, according to the program.
The ministry intervened just hours before a planned protest by leaders from numerous federal government employee unions. “We will still stage a rally to thank the government today (Thursday),” said Rehman Bajwa, a union leader.
By the end of April, the question of post upgradation on the model of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa would be considered based on the conclusions of the study being performed by MS Wing of the Establishment Division.
According to the Finance Ministry, the merger of ad hoc relief/allowances into pay would be decided based on the report of the pay and pension commission and will be integrated in basic pay as per the agreement.
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