ISLAMABAD: Environment of Cabinet meeting before announcing federal budget 2023-24 got tensed when Pakistan Peoples’ Party’s Chairman and Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari insisted raise of 50 percent in salaries of government employees, this scribe had learnt.

However, PPP’s Chairman finally succeeded to convince government for giving big chunk to government servants in budget for fiscal year of 2023-24. Reliable source in Cabinet meeting told on condition of not being disclosed said that PPP had given proposal to increase 50 percent in salaries of federal employees from BPS-1 to BPS-16 and 35 raise for employees of BPS-17 and above. Bilawal Bhutto was of view that government servants should be given big relief in incumbent budget due to inflation and price hike of basic commodities.

However, leadership of Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz wanted 20 percent raise in salaries of government employees from BPS-1 to BPS-16 and 15 percent for BPS-17 and onwards. Source revealed that environment of meeting went bit tense when PPP members were not ready to back from demand. Even PPP’s member of Cabinet said that his party could quit from treasury benches if demand was not accepted. He was of view that they had to approach public in general elections, which were closed.

Arguments on subject continued for around two hours and PPP Chairman finally succeeded to convince government for big jump in salaries of federal government’s employees. Cabinet unanimously decided to raise salaries 35 percent for employees from BPS-1 to BPS-16 and 30 percent for BPS-17 and above.

Published in The Daily National Courier, June, 10 2023

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