Military officers granted special relief allowance, NA panel told

The ministry of finance has told a parliamentary panel that armed forces officers have been granted a special relief allowance at 50% of their basic salary, while junior commissioned officers (JCOs) and soldiers would get 20% allowance in the new fiscal year, starting on July 1.

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Testifying before the National Assembly's Standing Committee on Finance and Revenue, Finance Secretary Imdadullah Bosal highlighted relief measures proposed in the budget, saying that "special relief allowance at the rate of 50% to officers and 20% to JCOs/soldiers" of their basic salary had been granted. The meeting was presided over by Syed Naveed Qamar, belonging to the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP).

The ministry did not disclose the financial impact and the reason for the higher allowance for officers in response to members' questions about the financial impact of these allowances. Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb promised to get back with a detailed response, besides few other things, later saying he had noted down the points raised by Omar Ayub, the leader of the opposition of the Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf (PTI).

Bosal disclosed that the current year's public sector development programme has been revised to Rs967bn from Rsl.I trillion and conceded even this amount may not be fully utilised by June 30, given the fact that Rs662bn had so far been actually spent.