Bureaucrats Upset After Only Selected Officers Get Rs. 2 Billion Allowance Boost

The federal government’s decision to increase the Executive Allowance (EA) for senior civil servants is facing criticism after several cadres were excluded from the benefit, triggering discontent across the bureaucracy.

The revised allowance, estimated to cost the government around Rs. 2 billion, applies to officers in BPS-17 to BPS-22 and is now linked to their running basic pay as of June 30, 2026, instead of being frozen at the 2022 basic pay level. The revised allowance has taken effect from July 1, 2026.

However, officers from several occupational groups, including the Information Group, Audit and Accounts, Postal Service, Commerce and Trade, Railways, and some police officers, have reportedly been left out of the enhanced benefit.

According to sources, officers from the Information Group serving in the Press Information Department (PID) and the Directorate of Electronic Media and Publications (DEMP) are among those excluded, even though other officers working in the same offices continue to receive the allowance. The disparity has led to frustration within the service.

Similarly, only Audit and Accounts officers posted at the group’s headquarters are eligible for the Executive Allowance, while many others remain excluded. Although the group receives a separate allowance introduced following judicial directions, officials say its value is significantly lower than the Executive Allowance.

The issue has reignited concerns over disparities in the federal government’s pay structure. Over the years, departments such as the Prime Minister’s Office, President’s Office, Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), National Accountability Bureau (NAB), intelligence agencies, and various regulatory bodies have received higher salaries and allowances than the standard Basic Pay Scale (BPS), creating wide differences in compensation across the civil service.

Sources said the Economist Group and Foreign Service officers were initially excluded from the revised allowance but were later included after raising objections. Following the latest decision, other excluded groups have also begun demanding equal treatment.

Separately, the federal government has approved a 15 percent Disparity Reduction Allowance-2026 for employees in BPS-1 to BPS-22 who are already receiving the allowance, based on their basic pay as of June 30, 2022, with effect from July 1, 2026.

The government has also approved a 50 percent increase in the conveyance allowance for civil servants in BPS-1 to BPS-22, effective from July 1, 2026, under the existing terms and conditions.