Statistics suggest that there is a huge disparity between salaries and benefits offered to different employees
KARACHI: I would like to draw the attention of Dr Shireen Mazari to the imbalance in salary structure in the public sector, causing the gap between the rich and the underprivileged to widen. It reminds of the rigid class system prevailing in ancient societies and makes one wonder when will this system come to an end?
Statistics suggest that there is a huge disparity between salaries and benefits offered to different employees. There is a large gap between the federal and provincial departments.
While certain employees enjoy facilities and incentives such as the provision of domestic staff, utility facilities, healthcare, loan facilities, and travel expenditure, other employees working in the same department are not as lucky. How can these departments expect loyalty and an efficient performance from their employees with such inequity?
Those working at departments such as the Prime Minister House, President House, Chief Ministers’ Secretariats and the Supreme Court enjoy lucrative perks and incentives, along with a higher salary, as compared to other departments. Justice and equity demand everyone should be given a fair chance and issued NOC to work in these highly-paid organisations, rather than a select few getting salaries highly disproportionate to their capabilities. This long-standing discrimination is causing frustration among the employees who have no political backing. Such employees are pinning hopes on you to set things right. We expect you to help build a system where merit, sincerity and dedication are respected, and honesty is not ridiculed.
Besides salary structure, there are issues relating to the ‘work structure‘ too. It has been observed that terms of reference and job descriptions are not shared with employees, especially lower-level employees. They are exploited by officers of higher grades, because it is they who issue the annual confidential report (ACR).
We expect you to do the needful.
Ashfak Ahmed
Published in The Express Tribune, May 24th, 2019.
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