LAHORE: The Punjab finance secretary has sent a note to the principal secretary to the chief minister explaining that provincial government employees are demanding implementation of 25 per cent raise in the basic pay scales under the Disparity Reduction Allowance and adds the demand involves huge financial implications that may cause an adverse effect on the provincial finances as the current financial year is nearing to its close.

Finance Secretary Iftikhar Ali Sahoo has also written in his letter that the notification issued by the federal government to pay a 25pc disparity reduction allowance was only meant for federal government employees.

Terming the finance secretary’s letter merely eyewash, the All Government Employees Grand Alliance (AGEGA) hailed the law minister’s assurance and chief minister’s direction that the Cabinet Standing Committee on Finance and Development discuss the government employees’ demand and submit its final recommendations.

In a meeting with Law Minister Basharat Raja at the civil secretariat on Thursday, AGEGA leaders Chaudhry Muhammad Sarfraz, Mian Sultan Mujaddidi, Khalid Javed Sanghera and others announced winding up their protest and clear roads for the traffic.

The law minister assured the employees’ leaders delegation that the 25 percent increase in Punjab would be considered as per the decision of the federal government. “A workable mechanism will be worked out for regularization of contract teachers and legal amendments be made to address the demand if required,” the law minister also assured.

Additional Chief Secretary Iram Bukhari as well as officers of finance, law and regulation departments were also present.

Published in Dawn, March 26th, 2021