The federal government’s decision to revise the Executive Allowance (EA) for senior civil servants has triggered discontent across the bureaucracy, with several occupational groups excluded from the enhanced benefit.
The revised allowance, estimated to cost the exchequer approximately Rs2 billion, applies to officers in BPS-17 to BPS-22 and is now linked to their running basic pay as of June 30, 2026, rather than being frozen at the 2022 basic pay level. The change took effect from July 1.
However, officers from several cadres — including the Information Group, Audit and Accounts, Postal Service, Commerce and Trade, Railways, and certain police officers — have reportedly been left out.
According to sources, Information Group officers serving in the Press Information Department (PID) and the Directorate of Electronic Media and Publications (DEMP) are among those excluded, even as other officers working in the same offices continue to receive the allowance. The disparity has caused considerable 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 EA.
The issue has reignited concerns over long-standing disparities in the federal government’s pay structure. Over the years, departments such as the Prime Minister’s Office, President’s Office, the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), the 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 gaps 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 per cent 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, effective from July 1, 2026.
The government has also approved a 50 per cent increase in the conveyance allowance for civil servants in BPS-1 to BPS-22, effective from July 1, 2026, under existing terms and conditions.
