AG stops salary raise for Punjab, Balochistan key officials

ISLAMABAD: The recent hefty raise in the salaries of a selected few in the civilian bureaucracy in the Punjab and Balochistan has been blocked.

Informed sources said that Auditor General of Pakistan Rana Asad Amin has ordered the Punjab and Balochistan Accountant Generals to block the controversial salary raise, of late given by the Punjab and Balochistan governments to a selected few in the civilian bureaucracy.

In addition, the issue has also been referred to the respective provincial governments to review their decision, which has been found illegal by the Auditor General. This decision of the Auditor General has immediately affected the chief secretaries and Inspector Generals of Police of Punjab and Balochistan as well as the registrar of the Lahore High Court.

Taking notice of The News report, the Auditor General of Pakistan had directed the Accountant Generals of Punjab and Balochistan to submit detailed reports on the matter. Both the Accountant Generals were asked to see under what law these raises had been given and whether or not the relevant legal and constitutional provisions were followed. In their reports, the Accountant Generals found this salary raise as illegal.

The News recently highlighted how the chief ministers, while using their executive powers, had allowed such raises in the salaries of selected class of employees, without the sanction of parliament or the provincial assemblies.

It was pointed out that these raises given by the provinces were in violation of Article 240 of the Constitution. It was highlighted that it was the responsibility of the Auditor General of Pakistan to intervene and ensure that the raise given to federal government officials by the provinces without the approval of the federal government was stopped and withdrawn.

The Article 240 of the Constitution envisages that condition of service of persons in the service of Pakistan shall be determined by parliament. Under this article, the terms and conditions of service of persons in the service of Pakistan shall be determined -- (a) in the services of the Federation, posts in connection with the affairs of the Federation and All-Pakistan Services, by or under Act of (Majlis-e-Shoora (Parliament)); and (b) in the case of the services of a Province and post in connection with the affairs of a Province, by or under Act of the Provincial Assembly.

However, none of the provinces had bothered to refer the matter to parliament or the respective provincial assemblies. In case of the federal employees including chief secretaries and inspector generals, any raise to be offered to them has to be done by the federal government with the approval of parliament. Without the federal government and parliament’s approval, the provinces can’t change the terms and conditions of the service of such employees.

The probe ordered by the Auditor General of Pakistan endorsed the point that the legislature’s sanction is a must in these matters. Initially, it was the Punjab government, which a couple of months back allowed Rs400,000 and Rs375,000 per month senior post allowance to chief secretary and IGP respectively. Later, the registrar LHC was given Rs400,000 per month senior post allowance.

Then the Balochistan government offered similar raises to its CS and IGP besides recommending to the Centre that these raises also be added to their pension. The Punjab government had also approved a post-retirement package for retired chief secretary and IGPs. The package even in case of the death of serving or retired CS and IGP would continue for life for the families of these officials.

Through an executive order, the officials working in Punjab provincial secretariat were also allowed special allowance, which will be 50% of their basic pay as frozen on June 30, 2011. Previously, they were allowed 20% special allowance, which is also known as Secretariat Allowance.