Punjab govt to issue pay protection notification

The Punjab government on Sunday agreed to issue the special pay protection notification within three days and doctors will be entitled to old benefits and the provincial government will also issue the notification regarding the Doctors Promotion Cell involving doctors awaiting promotion from BPS-18 to 19 and 20 on Monday.
The cell will be mandated to identify vacant seats against BPS-19 and 20 and seats will be filled by promoted doctors under a new criterion. The promotions will be ensured by the Departmental Promotion Committee (DPC) within three to six months. These decisions were made during a meeting between Pakistan Medical Association (PMA) Punjab office-bearers and Punjab health department officials.
Punjab Health Secretary Jahanzeb Khan chaired the meeting while Punjab Health Special Secretary Waseem Mukhtar, finance department officials, PMA Punjab President Dr Ashraf Nizami, Dr Akhtar Rashid and Dr Tanveer Anwar, representing the PMA, also attended the meeting. The health secretary assured the PMA delegation that he would arrange a meeting of the Departmental Promotion Committee (DPC) within three to six weeks to resolve administrative matters relating to doctors.
It was also decided that only the Departmental Promotion Cell will not resolve promotion issues and all pending cases of promotion of doctors will be cleared by the board. The board will accept Annual Confidential Reports (ACR) of the last five years for promotion of all cadres of doctors but also show lenient attitude towards ACR. A two-member committee was also formed to resolve the pay raise issue, which is the main demand of doctors.
The committee consisting of Dr Abrar Ashraf and Dr Izhar Chaudhry will engage government officials on a one-point agenda of pay raise of doctors. PMA Punjab office-bearers held a meeting on Saturday night and finalised names of doctors who will represent doctors in future talks with the Punjab government.