LAHORE: The Lahore High Court (LHC) has implemented a policy of compulsory monetisation of transport facilities for its officers of BPS-20 and 21, replacing official vehicles, maintenance and fuel provision.

A notification, issued by LHC Registrar Amjad Iqbal Ranjha, says this new move is based on the policy already adopted by the Islamabad High Court (IHC).

The compulsory monetisation transport policy grants a monetisation allowance to BPS-20 and 21 officers of the LHC (both establishment and court side), excluding those working on ex-cadre or deputation.

The new policy is also applicable on the officers in original substantive BPS-19, subject to concurrence of the provincial finance department.

BPS-19, 20 and 21 officers to get Rs55,000, Rs65,960 and Rs77,430, respectively

The notification states that all the entitled officers of the LHC shall be paid monetisation allowance instead of the official vehicles.

The monthly allowances of Rs77,430, Rs65,960 and Rs55,000 have been notified for the officers of BPS-21, 20 and 19, respectively.

The amount of the allowance would be revised from time to time based on the prices of petroleum products.

The entitled officers of the LHC who have been provided official vehicles are given first option to purchase the allocated vehicles at a depreciated price (if so desired bythe officer) as a one-time dispensation.

The judicial officers working on the strength of the LHC, who have been allocated official vehicles by their parent departments and are not availing themselves of the new monetization allowance, are entitled to the provision of fuel as per their entitlement, the notification adds. If an entitled officer does not purchase the already allocated vehicle as per the prescribed criteria, the same will be auctioned.

The policy is ostensibly designed to reduce operational expenses; however, some believe that the implementation of this policy could ignite a debate on whether monetisation is a reform or a repackaging.

They say time will tell whether the new policy is a cost-cutting reform or a deferred burden.

Published in Dawn, June 15th, 2025