Despite high terrorism risk, KP police salaries are low

PESHAWAR: The police personnel of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the most terrorism-affected province, receive the lowest salaries compared to other provinces in the country.

While the pay gap for lower-ranking officers is relatively smaller, it becomes significantly wider at higher ranks, making senior positions even less attractive. This disparity has led many KP officers to seek postings in other provinces for better financial prospects, while officers from other provinces are unwilling to be posted in KP.

The documents revealed that the disparity widens for DSP/ASP ranks (BS 17). The SP rank (BS 18) in KP earns Rs232,531 compared to Punjab’s Rs373,487, Sindh’s Rs299,000 while Balochistan’s Rs607,706 overshadows KP by Rs281,177. DIGs (BS 20) in KP earn Rs372,669, significantly lower than Punjab’s Rs579,361, Sindh’s Rs402,451, and Balochistan’s Rs746,172.

Newly posted Inspector General of Police Zulfiqar Hameed told this correspondent that Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is a terrorism-affected province, yet police salaries are lower than in other provinces. He stated that he has written to the provincial government to bring salaries in line with other provinces. The government has given a positive response regarding the salary increase. He added that the salary hike would put an annual burden of around Rs2 billion on the budget. The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has stated that all the police needs will be met and salaries will be reviewed. The official documents said that at the basic scale (BS) 7, a constable in the KP Police earns Rs69,127, while counterparts in Punjab get Rs73,000, a difference of Rs3,873. Sindh offers Rs69,520, just Rs393 more than KP, and Balochistan leads with Rs69,885, a gap of Rs758.

For head constables (BS 9), KP’s Rs76,996 lags behind Punjab’s Rs80,198 by Rs3,202, Sindh’s Rs76,895 by Rs101, and Balochistan’s Rs77,211 by Rs215.

Assistant Sub-Inspectors (ASIs) in BS 11 get Rs86,579 in KP, compared to Rs88,583 in Punjab (Rs2,004 higher), Rs88,488 in Sindh (Rs1,909 more), and Rs86,234 in Balochistan (Rs345 lower). Sub-Inspectors (SIs) at BS 14 earn Rs107,904 in KP, trailing Punjab’s Rs114,503 by Rs6,599, Sindh’s Rs114,871 by Rs6,967, and Balochistan’s Rs109,510 by Rs1,606. Inspectors (BS 16) in KP make Rs137,081, whereas Punjab offers Rs141,680 with a difference of Rs4,599, Sindh Rs144,738 with a gap of Rs7,657, and Balochistan Rs137,444, just Rs363 higher.

The disparity widens for DSP/ASP ranks (BS 17) with KP at Rs184,867, while Punjab pays Rs233,930 with a significant Rs49,063 difference. Sindh gives Rs177,562, Rs7,305 less than KP, but Balochistan tops at Rs453,727, a staggering Rs221,196 more.

The SP rank (BS 18) in KP earns Rs232,531 compared to Punjab’s Rs373,487 with a Rs140,956 gap. Sindh’s Rs299,496 is Rs27,033 higher, while Balochistan’s Rs607,706 overshadows KP by Rs281,177.

SSP/AIG officers (BS 19) receive Rs326,529 in KP, whereas Punjab offers Rs495,550 with a Rs169,021 difference, Sindh provides Rs362,820 with Rs9,849 more, and Balochistan leads with Rs679,147 showing a massive Rs306,478 gap. DIGs (BS 20) in KP earn Rs372,669, significantly lower than Punjab’s Rs579,361 by Rs206,692, Sindh’s Rs402,451 by Rs21,412, and Balochistan’s Rs746,172 by Rs322,309.

Additional IGPs (BS 21) in KP get Rs423,863, while Punjab offers Rs694,507, Rs270,644 higher. Sindh pays Rs402,451, Rs21,412 less than KP, and Balochistan far exceeds at Rs746,172, showing a difference of Rs322,309.

The Inspector General of Police (IGP) at BS 22 in KP earns Rs778,747, falling short of Punjab’s Rs837,953 by Rs59,206, Sindh’s Rs813,485 by Rs34,738, and Balochistan’s exceptional Rs1,148,244 with a colossal Rs369,498 difference.