ISLAMABAD: Pakistani Armed Forces demand Rise in salaries in the upcomingbudget 2020 – 21.
The armed forces have proposed to the government to merge four ad hocrelief allowances into basic pay and then grant 20 percent raise insalaries of officers and personnel for the upcoming budget 2020-21.
With the acceptance of this proposal in the upcoming budget, the totalfinancial impact in respect of three services is estimated at Rs63 billion.The proposal to merge four ad hoc relief allowances into basic pay scale of2017, relates to those given during 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019 and thengrant a 20 percent raise in revised pay scales for 2020.
A top official of the Finance Division on Monday confirmed that the armedforces have sent this proposal for consideration into upcoming budget for2020-21. “It will be considered,” he said. The Defence Ministry has writtena letter in this regard to the Finance Ministry.
According to the proposal of increase in the salaries sent to the FinanceDivision by the Joint Staff Headquarters following consultations with theServices HQs, the government employees including armed forces personnel arebeing affected due to the current price hike owing to the impact ofdevaluation of rupee on Consumer Price Index (CPI), percentage increase inutility bills and ongoing inflation.
In the current financial year 2019-20, 5 percent increase was granted toofficers up to rank of Brigadier (BSP-17 to 20), 10 percent adhoc reliefwas awarded to JCOs/soldiers (BPS 1 to 16), whereas no increase was givenfor General Officers (BPS-21-22). The ad hoc relief granted in pay ofofficers has also been marginalised by enhanced income tax slabs due towhich officers have to pay additional income tax from the existing pay.Consequently, the pay of officers has actually decreased.
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According to the official communication, the total financial impact inrespect of three services involved is Rs63 billion. The Finance Divisionhas requested to concur the JSHQ proposal for increase in pay in the nextfinancial year budget.
However, another top official of the Finance Ministry said that thegovernment had already established Pay and Pension Commission 2020 underchairmanship of former secretary Finance Abdul Wajid Rana and gave a longlist of terms of reference to finalise its ecommendation on pay andpension. The Pay and Pension Commission was given six-month time-frame topresent its detailed report. It is not yet confirmed whether the commissionwill be able to present its interim report before the upcoming budget ornot.
If the proposal of merging of four ad hoc allowances into revised pay scaleis allowed along with a 20 percent raise in salaries and pension of allemployees including civilians and armed forces, it will require Rs150 toRs200 billion in the next budget.
