The government is considering providing new salary measures to the major bureaucrats and restructuring federal ministries to improve efficiency. The proposal, which was discussed in a recent meeting of the Civil Service Reforms Committee, includes the creation of additional payment measures-BPS-23 and BPS-24-in addition to classifying ministries based on the work burden and the incorporation and exemptions of taxes, The Express Tribune I mentioned.
According to the news report, the committee members discussed whether the current basic salary scale system (BPS) should be kept. The additional Minister of Finance explained that although the working group has reviewed the option to replace the system, managing wage differences through different services without BPS will be unable.
The Economic Affairs Department provided results from a working group that evaluated federal and local benefits, regional wages comparisons, and possible improvements in post -retirement compensation.
The President asked how to manage salaries before introducing the BPS system in 1973, on which officials answered that wages were identified through the classification, starting from the first category (high skills) to class (non -skilled) workers.
The Minister of Planning and Development and Special Initiatives sought to obtain the position of the Wages and Pensioners Committee in this regard. The Minister of Finance informed the committee that the committee had recommended that the current BPS system be preserved. However, it has supported the idea of distinguishing between ministries and departments based on their responsibilities and work burden, indicating that compensation should be modified accordingly.
The committee also discussed the feasibility of the BPS-23 and BPS-24 entry for ministries dealing with technical and high work tasks. The Minister of Finance suggested that the establishment of a national executive service (NES) could serve as an alternative framework.
The chair highlighted that the approach of “one size that suits everyone” in paying the scales has been outdated, pointing to the Niles Jeelum Energy Energy Project as an example, as the shortage of specialized employees led to financial losses. He pointed out that six to seven ministries, especially those that deal with strength and energy, require specialized human resources and must be stimulated to attract skilled professionals.
Several members supported the idea of liquefying housing for federal employees, but the additional finance minister warned that such a step may cost the government about 24 billion rupees annually. He said that if a liquefaction is provided, approximately 45 % of employees who receive nominal rental allowances will also require similar compensation, which greatly increases the financial burden.
The Secretary of the Federal Public Service Committee (FPSC) suggested implementing the income liquefaction policy in the stages, starting with the employees of the Federal Secretariat or government offices taken from Islamabad. The committee supported this gradual approach. The President concluded the meeting by directing the working groups to end the recommendations for the next session.
