ISLAMABAD: The government has notified ded­uction of two-day salary of officers and one-day salary of employees as a donation to the special fund set up by the Chief Justice of Pakistan for construction of Diamer-Bhasha and Mohmand dams.

The notification has given an option to inform everyone before deduction whether they agree for it.

It said that the caretaker prime minister and members of his cabinet would contribute their basic salary of one month to the “Supreme Court of Pakis­tan Diamer Bhasha and Mohmand Dam Fund”.

However, the apex court in its judgement on July 4, 2018 had directed establishment of a fund in the name of registrar of the Supreme Court of Pakistan to collect donations for the construction of Diamer Bhasha and Mohmand dams.

Soon after the apex court order, the Finance Division created a fund and submitted proposal to the federal cabinet for its approval for deduction of salary of the government employees.

Consequently, the cabinet in a meeting on July 18 decided to deduct two-day salary of officers in Grade 17 and above, and a day’s salary of employees in Grade 16 and below working in ministries, divisions, dep­a­rtments, attached departments, authorities, corporations, companies, financial institutions and commissions falling under the federal government.

The cabinet also decided to deduct two-day salary of officers and one day’s salary of employees of the armed forces, civilian employees and those paid from defence estimates.

Published in Dawn, August 3rd, 2018