The government on Thursday announced 25 percent adhoc allowance for all federal employees of basic pay scale one to 19, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.

This was stated by Minister for Defence Pervez Khattak, Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid and Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Ali Muhammad Khan at a joint news conference in Islamabad along with the representatives of the government workers union.    

Pervez Khattak said notification of adhoc allowance will be issued today. He said this allowance will continue till the recommendations of Pay and Pension Commission. He said provincial governments will also be recommended to provide the adhoc allowance to their employees.   

Sheikh Rashid said salaries of employees in scale 20 and above will also be increased in the next budget.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bnHam25Zi4M

On this occasion, Sheikh Rashid announced the release of all the detained employees and withdrawal of all FIRs against them.

PM’s nod
Earlier, Prime Minister Imran Khan approved an increase in the salaries of the government employees a day after violent protests in Islamabad. The government’s negotiating team comprising Sheikh Rashid, Pervez Khattak and Ali Muhammad Khan held talks with the prime minister.

In the meeting, the officials of the Ministry of Finance gave a briefing and detailed information about the burden on the national exchequer due to the increase in salaries.

Imran Khan approved the increase in the salaries of the government employees, but this approval will also be sought from the cabinet.

Earlier Thursday, it was reported that successful talks were held between the government committee and representatives of the federal government employees. The talks took place at Pervez Khattak's residence.

‘Employees arrested like terrorists’

Head of All Pakistan Employees’ Grand Alliance Rehman Bajwa has asked the government not to stop at the mere announcement of 20 per cent increase in the salaries of federal government employees, but also issue a notification in this regard, and that too today.

In an interview with 24NewsHD TV channel on Thursday, Bajwa said it was unfortunate that the protesting federal government employees were arrested like terrorists and kept in the prison with hardened criminals.

He said employees’ all demands had almost been met. He, however, requested the political parties not to send their workers to their protests.

Later, talking to the media at Secretariat Chowk, Head of All Pakistan Employees’ Grand Alliance Rehman Bajwa said the state was like a mother to its citizens.

He threatened with another march towards Parliament House in case the notification was not issued for the pay raise by Thursday evening.

At the same time, however, Bajwa was all praise for Minister for Interior Sheikh Rashid who, he said, had fought the case of federal government employees very well.

Meanwhile, more and more government employees from across the country are heading to the federal capital’s D-chowk to join their colleagues already camped there and demanding raise in their salaries.

At the same time, the protestors are also holding a sit-in outside the National Press Club.

The federal capital had turned into a battlefield on Wednesday as security personnel and protesting government employees fought running battles in front of the Parliament. The police resorted to aerial firing to break up the protest.

The police even fired rubber bullets directly on to the protesters who were demanding raise in their salaries. Dozens of protesting government servants were also bundled into the police trucks and taken to police stations. Protesters said 40 of their colleagues were taken away.