Yesterday, the government announced to increase the protesting federal employees’ salaries by 25%, after the negotiation between both parties ended on a positive note. A notification was issued by the Finance Ministry which stated that the salary increase would come into effect from 1st March onwards. All employees from grade 1 to 19 will get an increase in their salaries.
The salary increase has been agreed on an ad hoc basis and might be added to the basic salary in the next fiscal year, the notification added.
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Prior to this development, a violent clash broke out on Wednesday, between the protesting secretariat staffers and the police, during which the protestors were also teargassed.
As a consequence, a ministerial committee consisting of Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid, Defence Minister Pervez Khattak, and State Minister for Parliamentary Affairs, Ali Muhammad Khan. The three-member ministerial committee negotiated with the protestors and came to the aforementioned solution.
According to the notification issued by the finance division, “those civil employees in BPS (1-19) … who have never been allowed additional salary equal to or more than 100% of the basic pay.”
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“The posts BPS (1-16) or equivalent will be upgraded on the pattern of Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa w.e.f 01 March 2021,”
“The grant of time-scale will also be considered for adoption on the same pattern in the next budget,” it added.
Addressing a press conference, Defense Minister, Pervez Khattak said “The ad hoc relief would be merged in the budget. The ad hoc relief will continue till the decisions of the Pay and Pension Commission.” He added, “Upgradation of employees has already been done in Punjab and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa.”
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The Defense Minister also stated that Prime Minister Imran Khan has given directives to two chief ministers to solve the issues of salaries of the provincial employees as well.
He further went on to state that a policy would be formulated for the time-scale promotion of employees. “The issue of time-scale promotions will also be resolved in the budget and the promotions will be given by looking into the employees’ performance.” “Directions will be issued to settle issues of lady health workers,” he added.
Addressing the media, Interior Minister Shiekh Rashid stated, “The government committee met the prime minister, who approved the increase in the salaries.”
He added, “All the issues of the employees are resolved amicably. The government will remain in contact with the employees to further facilitate them.”
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