Slashed allowances demoralising police force

SI says he received current month’s salary with a 50% reduction in risk allowance

LAHORE: The Punjab government has increased salaries of the police force by 10%, as announced in the current provincial budget; however, it has dramatically slashed their daily and risk allowances.

This was stated by police officials who spoke to The Express Tribune on Thursday. Police constable Muhammad Arif said although terrorism incidents had reduced in the country, there was still a great threat to law enforcement agencies.



He added recent incidents had proved police and law enforcement agencies were the main target of banned organisations. “In such circumstances, the government has cut the police force’s risk allowance despite the fact that risk has increased. It is totally unjustified.”

Sub-Inspector Muhammad Ali said he received his current month’s salary with a 50% reduction in risk allowance. “There was also a deduction of daily allowance in the salary.” He also expressed his reservations over the decision. “It is unfortunate that police officials are being targeted and the government is rewarding their sacrifices by deducting allowances.”



Ahmad Nawaz, a head constable, said it was demoralising for the force. “Are those sitting in air-conditioned rooms at risk?” he asked.

Sensing the disillusionment against the government’s step, Punjab IGP Arif Nawaz wrote a letter to the Punjab Chief Minister. It quoted a notification from 2009 which stated that “keeping in view the amount of risk posed to the employees of Punjab police, the chief minister was pleased to sanction a special salary package with immediate effect from 01.04.2009.”

The package included, inter-alia, sanction of risk allowance which would amount to one month pay equal to initial of the relevant pay scale and fixed daily allowance for 20 days in a calendar month.

With subject allowances, special allowances/special pay being provided to Special Branch, Crime Investigation Department, Special Intelligence Unit , Central Police Police, Punjab Constabulary, Telecommunication and Transport department, around 20% of their basic salaries were withdrawn. The allowance for SDPOs and SHOs was one extra basic salary for 20 days, fixed daily allowance and constabulary allowance.

The letter said this package boosted morale and commitment of the Punjab police, besides offering an increase in pay ranging from 30-60% for different ranks at that time.

The letter stated that pay scales were revised many times since 2009, but risk and fixed daily allowances were frozen at the level of 2008 and 2005, respectively, on 01.07.2011. This caused the gradual depreciation of the package in relative terms.

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The IG, in his letter, continued that the move had affected morale of Punjab police and undermined their role in the fight against crime and terrorism.

“It has caused serious concerns and disappointments among police at this critical juncture of a high-threat security environment.”

He told the government that the financial implications involved in the matter should be met within the existing police budget.

Additional IG Finance and Welfare Shoaib Dastageer said considering the high risk taken on by policemen, the government had allowed special allowances to the force at different times. He said that recently, the federal government had issued a notification following which the provincial government had slashed the force’s allowance.

However, this impression was incorrect that the government had withdrawn risk allowance or fixed daily allowance. “In fact, the government had reduced these allowances,” he maintained.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 4^th, 2017.