Punjab follows Centre in raising pay and pension of govt officials

 The Punjab cabinet has approved an increase in the salary and pension of government officials on the pattern of the federal government

The cabinet accorded the approval in its 21st meeting with Punjab Chief Minister Punjab Mohsin Naqvi in the chair.

Provincial ministers, advisers, chief secretary, top cop and officials concerned attended the meeting that took up 14-point agenda.

It was decided during the cabinet meeting to increase the 35% salary of government servants from grade 1 to grade 16 and a 30% increase in the salary of government servants from Grade 17-22.

The increase in the salaries will be made on the present basic salary of government servants. 

It was decided to delegate duties to the ministers in the relevant division. The ministers will remain in the field during the flooding.

CM Mohsin Naqvi direct adopted measures to control sugar smuggling and bring price stability.

A principal approval was granted to purchase of two new helicopters for Rescue 1122. One helicopter will be used as an air ambulance while the other will be used for providing rescue operations during floods or in any untoward situation.

The meeting okayed the grant for the Irrigation department to meet essential expenditures during floods while a special ministerial committee has been constituted 

Mohsin Naqvi lauded the Punjab government and the military leadership have adopted a formidable strategy to provide rescue activities in the flood-affected areas and for maintaining law and order during Muharram.

The CM directed to ensure the timely evacuation of flood-hit localities/

The cabinet okayed the establishment of the Board of Management of the Institute of Public Health under the Punjab Medical & Health Institution Act 2023.

They were off the view that the federal government increased the salaries of its employees by 35 per cent in the annual budget. The provincial governments in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan and Sindh followed the federal government and raised the salaries by 30 to 35%.

But the Punjab government increased the salaries of civil servants on the basis of the previous basic salary, they stressed adding that the Punjab government should have increased the salaries of government employees and other facilities on the pattern of the federal government. The deviation had resulted in economic hardship for millions of employees, they added.

 

Reporter Ali Ramay