ISLAMABAD, Sept 22: On the directives of the Supreme Court, the Punjab government has allowed 15 per cent dearness allowance to contract employees, including teachers, of the education department with effect from July 1, 2006.

On November 25, 2005, a teacher through an application had requested Chief Justice of Pakistan Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry to intervene and order the provincial government to increase the salary of contract employees of the education department. Consequently, the CJP ordered comments from the Punjab government.

In compliance with the orders, the Punjab government informed the apex court that it had decided to allow dearness allowance at a rate of 15 per cent of the basic pay to contract employees of the education department to redress the grievance of the applicant as well as other school teachers.

Appreciating the announcement, the chief justice termed Punjab government’s move “a very important decision.”