The Pakistani government has announced that the Adhoc Relief Allowance-2023 will now be applicable to employees of Autonomous and Semi-Autonomous Bodies, as well as Corporations that adhere to the Federal Government’s Basic Pay Scales scheme. This decision, effective from July 1, 2024, was outlined in a recent notification from the Finance Division.
According to the Finance Division’s notification, the Adhoc Relief Allowance-2024 will be granted at 25 percent of the basic pay for employees in Basic Pay Scales (BPS) 1-16 and at 26 percent for those in BPS 17-22. However, this allowance will only apply to entities that have fully adopted the federal government’s pay scales. Public Sector Corporations and Autonomous/Semi-Autonomous Bodies with different pay structures or allowances will not benefit from this provision.
For organizations that follow alternative pay scales, the allowance for 2024 will be set at 25 percent for executive and supervisory staff, and 20 percent for non-executive staff. This allowance will be subject to the financial condition of each organization and requires approval from the Standing Committee of the Finance Division based on recommendations from the respective Board of Directors or Governors.
The notification also clarifies that while the Adhoc Relief Allowance-2023 recognizes the efforts of employees, it does not serve as a basis for shortlisting designs for a new banknote series. This point was highlighted to address misconceptions that the art competition results were directly linked to new banknote designs.
In addition, the Finance Division has reminded all ministries and divisions of the Rules of Business, 1973, which stipulate that no changes to the terms and conditions of government service or financial implications can be made without prior consultation with the Finance Division. This regulation, reinforced by the Supreme Court of Pakistan’s judgment in Civil Appeals No.1428 to 1436 of 2016, underscores the legal obligation to follow these protocols to ensure the validity of such orders.
All administrative ministries and divisions are required to ensure that any modifications in pay, allowances, and privileges of staff within their control are processed in accordance with the Finance Division’s directives. Despite previous requests for details on the pay structures of autonomous and semi-autonomous bodies, some ministries have yet to provide the necessary information. These entities are urged to initiate and forward cases for consideration by the Standing Committee of the Finance Division and obtain final approval from the Secretary of the Finance Division.
Additionally, an office memorandum issued on June 12, 2024, directs that recruitment to federal government positions in BPS-1 to BPS-16, excluding the Armed Forces, Civil Armed Forces, and other security-related agencies, must be approved by the Austerity Committee constituted by the Finance Division. This measure aims to control government spending and ensure proper authorization for new hires.
All ministries and divisions are asked to disseminate these instructions to their respective departments and ensure strict adherence to the new guidelines, thereby promoting transparency and consistency in the administration of allowances and recruitment processes.