MULTAN,June 6th: Ashfaq Ahmed Khan Secretary General of federation of workers Union ,Khalid Mehmood Sanghera Divisional President of All Pakistan Clerks Association(APCA), MDA's employees Union President Shah Wali Rajput and other Government employees unions have hailed the Government's announcement regarding raising 50 % salaries of Grade one to 15 employees and 100 percent in Medical allowance, increasing the ceiling of income tax from Rs.200000 to 3,00,000,raising of 50 and 15 per cent in the pay and medical allowance of the basic salary – from Grade-16 to Grade-22 for the last sum only respectively - in the federal budget on the face is a positive step by the government-being-run-on-debts, but certainly it is not going to solve a lot of issues being faced by the lower-tier public servants.
Moreover, Grade-1 to Grade-15 of the federal government would get 100 per cent increase under the head of the medical allowances. Nevertheless, this announcement has also pleased the Punjab government’s employees since they are expecting that the provincial government will also announce the same for them. However, on the other hand, certain quarters believe that for the higher grades, it does not mater whether the government increases the pay even by 100 per cent because they are already having the best of times. “It is certainly good news for all those who are still surviving and running their houses by spending their pays only,” opined a senior officer. He was of the considered opinion that apparently an effort had been made at curtailing corruption, which was a huge blot on the Centre’s working. No doubt, this good step of increasing pays, medical allowance and pensions has its bearings on the already beleaguered economy of the country, and it will added more pressure to the ever-shrinking public exchequer.
As per available data, Pakistan’s public sector has a sanctioned staff of over 3.4 million persons. The civilian work force, excluding Armed Forces, consists of 2.8 million, which is divided as autonomous bodies 390,000, federal government 376,000, civilians paid out of Defence 162,000, Punjab government 902,000, Sindh 478,000, Khyber PK 300,000 and Balochistan 166,000. “The highest in the list is the Punjab, which has around 1million employees, who are drawing salaries as per their service structure. But on the other hand, the provincial government is having a large number of chairmen task forces, media and political advisors – besides repeated recruitments being made – who are already enjoying huge pays, perks and privileges,” maintained the officers, while pointing out that the federal government has virtually tightened noose around the necks of the provinces, especially the ones which are really cash-strapped. “Now the Punjab government’s around one million employees are anxiously waiting about the provincial government’s response in the fiscal outlay 2010-11, which is morally bound to toe Centre’s line,” said the officer.
As per the sources of the Finance Department, it would be a difficult time ahead for the provincial unit since the government was said to be running on over-draft. “Salaries are being paid in time certainly, while the rest is being done at the end of every month after the taxes are collected. We are already facing financial crunch, and payments through cheques are repeatedly stopped, and delaying of contractors’ bills is a routine,” confided the source, adding that the federal government had different pools, and could draw money from different sources to carryout its business.
However, the FD has been officially denying any such assertions by maintaining that the financial position of government was very strong and it never took a loan of Rs 80 billion – ‘may be less than this’. The spokesperson said Punjab had returned Rs 9 billion from its outstanding loans, while the payment of loan was being made regularly, and it had Rs 17 billion in its account, a proof of its stable financial position. “Punjab’s response in the coming budget will make everything clear regarding its financial position,” observed the source.
Moreover, Grade-1 to Grade-15 of the federal government would get 100 per cent increase under the head of the medical allowances. Nevertheless, this announcement has also pleased the Punjab government’s employees since they are expecting that the provincial government will also announce the same for them. However, on the other hand, certain quarters believe that for the higher grades, it does not mater whether the government increases the pay even by 100 per cent because they are already having the best of times. “It is certainly good news for all those who are still surviving and running their houses by spending their pays only,” opined a senior officer. He was of the considered opinion that apparently an effort had been made at curtailing corruption, which was a huge blot on the Centre’s working. No doubt, this good step of increasing pays, medical allowance and pensions has its bearings on the already beleaguered economy of the country, and it will added more pressure to the ever-shrinking public exchequer.
As per available data, Pakistan’s public sector has a sanctioned staff of over 3.4 million persons. The civilian work force, excluding Armed Forces, consists of 2.8 million, which is divided as autonomous bodies 390,000, federal government 376,000, civilians paid out of Defence 162,000, Punjab government 902,000, Sindh 478,000, Khyber PK 300,000 and Balochistan 166,000. “The highest in the list is the Punjab, which has around 1million employees, who are drawing salaries as per their service structure. But on the other hand, the provincial government is having a large number of chairmen task forces, media and political advisors – besides repeated recruitments being made – who are already enjoying huge pays, perks and privileges,” maintained the officers, while pointing out that the federal government has virtually tightened noose around the necks of the provinces, especially the ones which are really cash-strapped. “Now the Punjab government’s around one million employees are anxiously waiting about the provincial government’s response in the fiscal outlay 2010-11, which is morally bound to toe Centre’s line,” said the officer.
As per the sources of the Finance Department, it would be a difficult time ahead for the provincial unit since the government was said to be running on over-draft. “Salaries are being paid in time certainly, while the rest is being done at the end of every month after the taxes are collected. We are already facing financial crunch, and payments through cheques are repeatedly stopped, and delaying of contractors’ bills is a routine,” confided the source, adding that the federal government had different pools, and could draw money from different sources to carryout its business.
However, the FD has been officially denying any such assertions by maintaining that the financial position of government was very strong and it never took a loan of Rs 80 billion – ‘may be less than this’. The spokesperson said Punjab had returned Rs 9 billion from its outstanding loans, while the payment of loan was being made regularly, and it had Rs 17 billion in its account, a proof of its stable financial position. “Punjab’s response in the coming budget will make everything clear regarding its financial position,” observed the source.
