PhD bonus

The government has increased the special allowance for civil servants who hold PhD degrees to Rs1,000. This is a very good step. It is only fair that employees with higher academic qualifications are duly rewarded. So far so good but what is not fair is that pensioners have been ignored once again. It would only be fair that retired government employees who hold higher qualifications should also be allowed this allowance. If in-service PhDs are a boon for the government so are retired officials.
The budget is currently under discussion in parliament. This issue, along with the issue of increase of pension, should be sorted out. Our parliamentarians are duty-bound to ensure that a fair and poor-friendly budget is passed by them.
Zaheer Ahmed
Islamabad