The All Primary Schools Teachers Association (APTA) and academicians of the public sector universities of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on Monday demanded of the Federal Government to review its decision and increase the salaries and pension of the Govt employees by 20 per cent in the announced budget for year 2015-16.
Noor Habib Khan, the Spokesman of All Primary Teachers Association (APTA) KP said that a grant of 7.5 per cent as ad-hoc relief allowance in the pay and pension of the government employees announced in the federal budget 2015-16 was not sufficient, keeping in view the prevailing price hike situation.
Most of the teachers, he said, cannot construct even a room for their families due to their low income and minimum wages, added that quality education and health services are merely a dream for them.
To overcome teachers’ and other low grade employees’ financial problems, the APTA Spokesman demanded 20 per cent increase in salaries and pension of the Govt employees from grade-1-15 and 15 percent in the salaries of BPS-16 and above officers. This would help provide maximum relief to the employees, pensioners to a great extent, he added.
The APTA Spokesman, however, welcomed the announcement of the merger of ad-hoc increases of 2011 and 2012 in the basic pay scale in the federal budget 2015-16. He said majority of Government employees were very poor and can’t afford expensive treatment for fatal ailments like cancer and hepatitis etc and spent all their saved money on their treatment and family members once diagnosed.
He demanded 50 per cent increase in the medical allowance of the Govt employees against the announced 25 per cent.
Noor Habib lauded the Federal Govt announcement of one pre-mature increment to grade 5 employees, Rs 10,000 allowance for PhD scholars and 100 per cent increase in the special pay of Senior Private Secretary, Private Secretaries and Assistance Private Secretaries. This would help provide great financial relief to the university lecturers and private secretaries to great extent, he added.
The APTA Spokesman said labourers were the backbone of the country’s economy and their role in agriculture, industrial and public sectors development could not be overlooked. He said the minimum wages for labourers should be increased up to Rs 20,000 against the present announcement of Rs 13,000 rupees per month to help them and their family members on financial fronts.
