KARACHI: The Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah in its budget for the 2018-19 fiscal year announced a 10% interim raise in salaries of public sector employees as well as a 10% increase in pensions.
Moreover, the allocation for house rent allowance has also been increased by 50%.
Individual pensions have been raised from Rs6, 000 to Rs10, 000 while the family pension has been increased from Rs4, 500 to Rs7, 500.
Moreover, for pensioners above 75 years of age, the lowest pension announced is Rs15, 000.
The support staff’s overtime salary has also been increased by 100%; thus, support staff, drivers, dispatch riders and others will receive Rs80 per hour as overtime instead of Rs40 per hour.
Moreover, Rs5.1 billion will be provided in subsidies on grain to sell flour at cheaper rates during the next fiscal year; Rs4.2 billion has been designated as cash compensation to be distributed amongst poor and needy families during Ramzan; whereas, Rs55 million have been kept for the health insurance of Sindh Secretariat employees and the government has also decided to allocate a universal death insurance of Rs100, 000 to be provided to the families of people who die in accidents. Rs2.2 billion have been allocated for this purpose.
In light of this year’s budget, the government has increased the funds for social welfare by 17% making it Rs1.87 billion; with the Child Protection Authority getting Rs200 million.
The Pakistan Sweet Home orphanages will be allocated Rs36 million and HANDS, a Non-Governmental Organisation, will be allocated Rs250 million.
