RAWALPINDI: Increase in pay scales of Gazetted, non-Gazetted, Civil Services and Defence Forces personnel will cost the Central Exchequer to the tune of Rs 15 crores to 17 crores annually. Disclosing this, the Finance Minister, Mr Mohammad Shoaib, hoped revised pay structures would attract reasonably intelligent and hardworking young men to the services.

“The Government does need some brilliant people for services and we do hope that as a result of revised scales, intelligent stuff would be available in abundance,” he said.

Talking to newsmen today [April 22], the Minister also hoped that the new scales of emoluments for the Defence Services would attract good and suitable men from East Pakistan from where so far not enough suitable persons have been offering themselves for the Defence Forces. Giving comparative figures of previous and new scales, Mr Shoaib said in case of civilian Gazetted ranks alone, increased salaries would cost the Exchequer about Rs 1 crore.

He said that arrears of increased pay would be disbursed by the end of May.