The Ministry of Finance has refused to increase the salaries of theemployees of the federal government until new changes are introduced in theupcoming budget for the fiscal year 2021-22, reported Business Recorder.

Well-informed sources told Business Recorder that the ministry has statedthat any increases in their salaries will be made in accordance with therecommendations of the Pay and Pension Commission at the time of the newbudget.——————————

The newspaper reported that this issue had been raised by employees at thefederal Secretariat at a recent meeting of the Federal Cabinet and that theemployees of the federal government have been protesting against thegovernment for not opting to match their salaries to the cost of livingindex. However, no results have been achieved on this front so far.

Prime Minister Imran Khan has urged the Pay and Pension Commission topresent an equitable formula for all the employees of the federalgovernment.

The Pay and Pension Commission 2020 had been formed to consider theexisting pay and pension structure of the federal government and to provideproposals for necessary changes.

The reforms made so far in the federal government entities have been thereduction of total posts from 441 to 324, while the vacant posts for BS 1to BS 16 in the ministries and their divisions are to be eliminated for ayear. The Finance Division is preparing a summary for the elimination ofthese 70,000 vacant posts (BS 1-16).——————————

The Institutional Reforms Committee (IRC) is also working on reformsfor key economic institutions like the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), theSecurities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP), and the State Bankof Pakistan (SBP), etc. with the concerned ministries.

The roadmap to e-governance has already been approved, and the upgrading ofwebsites to the 3G version and the launching of web portals is underway.