ISLAMABAD: While the country is facing historic financial crunch, the federal government has approved 150 per cent Executive Allowance for hundreds of BS 17-22 employees working in the Federal Secretariat and administration of Islamabad Capital Territory.Â
To add fuel to the fire, the National Standing Committee on Government Assurances on Monday recommended similar allowances to thousands of engineers serving various departments of the federal government – despite the fact that prime minister has announced austerity measures for the federal and provincial governments.
During a meeting of the National Standing Committee on Government Assurances, which was chaired by MNA Muhammad Afzal Khokhar, the committee recommended giving the 150 percent allowances to over 3550 engineers.
The engineers seeking the allowance included around 1400 of the federal government and 2150 engineers of the air force and navy. According to an official, the number of engineers may go up to 6000 if all the engineers of army and civilians under central government are included.
During the meeting, while discussing the pending issue of executive (engineering) allowances to federal engineers, the officials from the Finance Division claimed that the move would burden the government budget. However the committee recommended the allowances keeping in view that the engineers in provinces and CDA were already getting similar allowances. It was briefed that the assurance to engineers was given by former MNA and Minister of Parliamentary Affairs Ali Muhammad during a previous meeting of the committee.
It may be mentioned here that while the common Pakistanis are being burdened with new taxes and price hike of basic commodities, the federal government was notifying various allowances to the officials.
Following the approval of the Prime Minister, the Finance Division had issued OM No.10(02)R-3/2018-297 regarding grant of Executive Allowance to BS 17-22 officers working in the Federal Secretariat and Islamabad Capital Territory field Administration.
In continuation of Finance Division’s July 19, 2022, it was directed to convey the approval of the Prime Minister for admissibility of Executive Allowance to all BPS 17-22 officers, (excluding Private Secretaries), posted/working in the Federal Secretariat, as defined in the Rules of Business 1973, as well as Prime Minister’s Office and President Secretariat w.e.f. January 01, 2023.
Meanwhile the committee, while discussing the Payment of honorarium to the employees of PTV, PID and ICT Police who actually worked during the Budget Session of 2022-23 in the precincts of the Assembly, shown its displeasure over nonpayment of honorarium to employees of PTV. The committee was informed that employees of PID were given the announced honorarium however the process of disbursing the same to employees of PTV was pending since the funds have not been released by the Finance Division so far.
