Govt announces big news for teachers

LAHORE: The Punjab Education Department, while announcing important relief for government teachers, has issued instructions to maintain the conveyance allowance of teachers participating in the English language training program.

The new decision will provide financial assistance to thousands of teachers participating in the training program during the summer vacation.

According to a letter issued by the Education Department, teachers receiving English language training during the summer vacation will be considered on government duty, so no deduction will be made in their conveyance allowance.

In the letter, clear instructions have been issued to all Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) Education across Punjab that the allowances of teachers participating in the training should be paid as usual and no different procedure should be adopted in this regard in any district. According to the education department, the aim of this move is to encourage teachers to participate fully in professional training and protect them from financial loss so that they can further improve the quality of education by acquiring modern teaching skills.

It should be noted that in the past, the conveyance allowance of teachers participating in training programs during the summer vacations was usually stopped, which has raised concerns from various quarters.

However, after the new decision, teachers participating in English language training will continue to get this facility.

Education experts have welcomed this decision of the Punjab Education Department, saying that it will motivate teachers, increase participation in training programs and ultimately help in providing quality education to students.

Punjab govt recommends increase in salaries

The Punjab government has recommended an increase in salaries and pensions in its budget for the fiscal year 2026-27, sources in the provincial finance ministry said on Monday.

All preparations for the presentation of the provincial budget have been finalized, with Finance Minister Mujtaba Shuja-ur-Rehman set to present the budget in the Punjab Assembly on June 16. According to finance ministry sources, the budget figures have been finalized and a provincial cabinet meeting will be held at 11:00am today to approve the budget proposals ahead of the assembly session.

Sources said the social sector has been given priority in the upcoming budget, while no new taxes are being proposed. The budget also recommends an increase in salaries and pensions in line with the raise announced by the federal government in the Budget 2026-27, they added. The federal budget proposes a 7 percent increase in salaries for government employees and a 7 percent increase in pensions for retired employees.