The Institute of Chartered Accountants of Pakistan (ICAP) has increased the minimum stipend rates for Chartered Accountancy trainees, with the revised payments taking effect from July 1, 2026. The move comes a year after the institute’s stipend revisions drew criticism from trainees over reduced payments.

Under the new schedule, the highest monthly stipend has been increased from Rs. 85,000 to Rs. 93,500, while starting stipends and other training milestones have also been revised upward across multiple trainee categories.

For trainees following the 3.5-year CAF pathway, the minimum monthly stipend has been raised to:

• Rs. 27,500 on commencement of training (up from Rs. 25,000)
• Rs. 38,500 after passing four CFAP/MS papers or more (up from Rs. 35,000)
• Rs. 55,000 upon qualifying with more than six months of training remaining (up from Rs. 50,000)
• Rs. 93,500 for qualified trainees in the final six months of training (up from Rs. 85,000).

ICAP has also increased stipends for trainees under the 2.5-year training route, as well as for SDAI/RDAI graduates and other eligible degree holders, with higher payments at each stage of training compared to the previous year’s schedule.

Last year’s notification had reduced or restructured stipend progression for several trainee categories, prompting criticism from students and trainee accountants. The latest revision restores higher minimum payments and increases the maximum stipend by Rs. 8,500 per month.