In order to provide relief to the inflation-weary people, the federal government on Wednesday decided to release salaries for the current month to the employees of public sector departments before Eid ul Fitr — a religious event that is celebrated across the world.
The announcement comes after consultations were held between Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Finance Minister Ishaq Dar.
The move comes as Pakistanis deal with historic high inflation, which has forced several to forego even essential edible items. The nation is struggling to secure external financing as well, with the looming threat of default hanging over it
Confirming the development, Information Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb announced that the government has also decided to release monthly pensions before the festival.
Read more: Government employees to get advance salary ahead of Eid ul Fitr
وزیراعظم شہباز شریف نے ملازمین اور پینشنرز کی سہولت کے لئے سرکاری ملازمین کو عیدالفطر سے قبل تنخواہ اور ماہانہ پینشن ادا کرنے کی ہدایت کردی۔وزیراعظم نے وزیر خزانہ اسحاق ڈار کو بدھ کو باضابطہ ہدایت کی ہے۔ وزیر خزانہ نے وزیراعظم کی ہدایات پر فوری عمل درآمد کی ہدایت کی ہے
— Marriyum Aurangzeb (@Marriyum_A) April 12, 2023
Following the decision, Dar directed Finance Secretary Hamed Yaqoob Sheikh to make arrangements accordingly.
Earlier, the Government of Sindh had announced releasing the salaries of Muslim government employees in advance ahead of Eid ul Fitr.
“…full pay and allowances/full pension for the month of April, shall be paid in advance to all Muslim employees/pensioners of Provincial Government of Sindh (including work-charged and contingent paid establishment),” a notification from the finance department read.
The salaries and pensions will be released on April 17 instead of May 2, the notification added, noting that Eid is expected to fall on either April 21 or April 22.
