In a move set to impact thousands of public sector employees, the government is contemplating a substantial salary increase ranging from 15-20% for the upcoming fiscal year 2024-25. The budget announcement, expected this week, could bring much-needed financial relief to government workers.
Sources reveal that the Ministry of Finance has proposed a salary hike to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. The suggested increase includes a boost of Rs40,000 to Rs60,000 under the bureaucracy’s monetization policy. For government officers up to Grade 20, the proposal outlines an even larger increase, with the monetization policy potentially rising by Rs65,000 to Rs105,000.
Implementing these salary adjustments would add an estimated Rs80 billion burden on the national budget. This significant increase aims to address the long-standing demands of public sector employees for better compensation.
Employees from grades 1 to 16 are also advocating for a 200% increase in medical and conveyance allowances. Currently, the medical allowance stands at Rs1,800, and the conveyance allowance is Rs1,500 for these grades. If approved, these changes would significantly improve the financial well-being of lower-grade government workers.
The final decision regarding the salary and allowance hikes will be made by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, in consultation with the Ministry of Finance and the cabinet. This decision will be crucial for balancing the need to support public sector employees with the fiscal realities facing the government.
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