SWABI, Oct 1: Teachers in the NWFP are still not being paid the special qualification allowance announced in the federal budget.

Sources told Dawn that Senior Minister Sirajul Haq had assured teachers of the province that they would get the allowance like teachers in other provinces and had directed the provincial finance department to issue a notification in this regard. However, they added, the finance department had not issued the notification.

State Minister for Finance Omar Ayub Khan had announced the allowance of Rs500, Rs700 and Rs1,000 according to a teacher’s qualification.

Leaders of different teachers’ organisations, including the All-Pakistan Teachers Association, have demanded immediate payment of the allowance with arrears.

They said if the government did not pay teachers the allowance, they would boycott classes in protest.

They said teachers of Punjab, Balochistan and Sindh were getting the allowance.

They criticised the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal government for delaying payment of the allowance.

Sources in the finance department said teachers would not get the special allowance with their September salary.