GILGIT, June 10: Over 2,2000 government employees in the Northern Areas were eagerly awaiting restoration of the Gilgit Compensatory Allowance in the budget 2006-07 but it did not figure out in the budget.

The monthly allowance of Rs450 which was paid since 1972 had been slashed in June by the Pay and Pension Committee.

The Northern Areas Legislative Council and the local finance department have made repeated requests for its restoration but they have been turned down by the prime minister’s secretariat on the grounds that the case should be taken up with the committee.

Sources said fresh attempts had been made to present the case before the federal finance division.—Correspondent