July 31, 2007	Tuesday	Rajab 15, 1428

KARACHI, July 30: The Sindh finance ministry has frozen four relief allowances of government employees and abolished the same for new-comers joining the government service from July 1.

The allowances have been frozen with an upward revision of pay scales of employees from the new fiscal year.

Sources at the ministry told Dawn on Monday that the allowances are: Special relief allowance, 25 per cent of the basic pay dated July 1, 1991; additional special relief allowance, 15 per cent of the basic dated July 1, 2000; ad hoc relief allowance, 15 per cent of the running pay dated July 1, 2004, and dearness allowance, 15 per cent of the running pay dated July 1, 2006.

The upward revision of pay scales from July 1 would not have any impact on these allowances and the employees would continue to receive the same as the existing rate. However, those joining the government service after July 1, 2007 would not be entitled to these four relief allowances, the sources added.

The sources maintained that since the reasons for which the special relief allowances were created no more exist with the revision of pay scales, the same has been frozen.

The government decided to revise the pay scales upward to give maximum benefits to the low paid employees instead of allowing 15 per cent raise in salaries announced in the new budget.

The most beneficial impact of the revised pay scales would be on the house rent which will be increased in case of peons from Rs968 to Rs1,154; junior clerks from Rs1,150 to Rs1,323; assistants from Rs1,604 to Rs1,845; and grade 17 officers from Rs3,213 to Rs3,695.

The majority of employees in grade 18 to 20 live in official accommodation, hence they are not entitled for any house rent.

The employees will get their August salary according to their old pay scales because the orders were received late. However, their September salary will reflect full benefits of the revised pay scales with arrears of the August salary.

The employees have generally hailed the revision of pay scales. The employees preferred revised pay scales over the budgetary announcement of 15 per cent raise in salaries as it brought in its wake some fringe benefits.

They, however, expressed dismay over freezing of four relief allowances in lieu of upward revision in pay scales.