Bureaucracy seeks120-150pc raise for Federal Secretariat employees

ISLAMABAD: The highest forum of bureaucracy has recommended that the Federal Secretariat’s Grade 1 to 22 employees be given a 120 per cent raise in salaries, and Executive Allowance be given to the federal secretary and additional secretaries deputed to ministries and divisions from January 1, 2020.

These recommendations were made in a meeting of the Secretaries Committee held on January 23. The committee asked the Finance Division to process cases in this regard. The meeting discussed the difference between the salaries of Provincial and Federal Secretariats. The finance secretary could not attend the meeting. Additional Secretary Finance Sohail Rajpoot gave briefing. He said the Finance Division has completed home work. There is a proposal under consideration of the Finance Division that Grade 1 to 22 employees should get a 120 per cent raise. Another proposal under consideration is that Grade 1 to 16 employees should get basic salary’s 50 per cent as Utility Allowance. Grade 17 to 20 employees should get basic salary’s 120 per cent as Utility Allowance. Grade 21 to 22 employees should get basic salary’s 150 per cent as Utility Allowance.

Federal secretaries, who are incharges of ministries and divisions, should be eligible to get Executive Allowance equal to the chief secretary. There was also a proposal to raise the salaries of cadre posts in the Federal Secretariat and the basic salaries of section officers, deputy secretaries and joint secretaries should be raised by 100 per cent. There should be a 150 per cent raise in the basic salary of senior joint secretary, additional secretary and special secretary. There should be Executive Allowance worth four lakh rupees each for federal secretaries and incharge secretaries.

After considering the proposals, the Secretaries Committees recommended that the raise should be equal. The committee expressed concern over delay in completing the process for raise in salaries and allowances and said the delay has disturbed the employees of the Federal Secretariat. The committee asked the Finance Division to immediately complete the salaries and allowances package and forward it to the prime minister for approval.