Interim govt to leave funds for new pay scale

The interim government will keep budgetary provisions for implementing the new pay scale for public employees, even though the task will fall to the next elected government, said Finance Adviser Salehuddin Ahmed.

The national pay commission has submitted its report recently, recommending more than double the basic salary of government employees. Ahmed described the report as “very good”.

He made the remarks while speaking to journalists at the Secretariat after a meeting of the government purchase committee today.

The adviser said the interim government will form a committee to review the pay commission recommendations.

Asked what assurance there was that the next government would act on the recommendations, Ahmed said they would leave behind both the funds and the proposals.

“I hope it will be implemented successfully.”

Responding to a question on why the government was not issuing a gazette notification immediately in line with the pay commission proposals, he said the process was not straightforward.

“To issue a gazette, you have to clearly mention who will get how much. In short, we are leaving behind a committee to implement these recommendations.”

The finance adviser was also asked about election-related spending ahead of the February 12 polls, including the cost of holding a referendum on the same day.

“I don’t know about that,” he said.

“But we have not been ungenerous about ensuring a fair election. Whatever money was asked for, we gave. Even when some extra money was requested, I said I would provide that too,” said the adviser.