The prospect of raising the disparity reduction allowance (DRA) for government employees in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa from 15 to 30 per cent has dimmed following the recent devastation caused by floods across several districts of the province.
Official sources told The Express Tribune, the provincial government which was already grappling with a financial crunch has lost interest in revisiting the matter in the wake of mounting expenditures on flood relief and rehabilitation.
Earlier, the government had announced a 15 per cent disparity reduction allowance in the provincial budget, a move rejected outright by employees who launched protests on June 25, 2025. The demonstrations were later postponed after government assurances.
A high-level committee, comprising Minister for Higher Education Meena Khan Afridi and Advisor on Health Ehtesham Khan, had held talks with employees and sought cost estimates from the Finance Department to review the proposal for a 30 per cent allowance. However, no report was issued and no meeting was convened to pursue the matter further.
In contrast, following the floods that inflicted heavy human and material losses, the provincial government has decided to deduct two days' salary from officers and one day's salary from other employees for the Chief Minister's Flood Relief Fund.
Sources confirmed that in light of the financial burden, the possibility of increasing the allowance from 15 to 30 per cent is now virtually ruled out.
It may be recalled that earlier this month, government once again postponed a decision on the Disparity Reduction Allowance (DRA) for provincial employees after a key meeting between government representatives and employee leaders ended without a resolution. The meeting, held on August 7, concluded with the government seeking detailed financial estimates from the finance department regarding the proposed increase in allowance from 15 per cent to 30 per cent. However, no date was given for the next meeting.
Despite weeks of protests by government employees, which began on July 25, the demand for a 30 per cent DRA remains unmet. Employees had been staging demonstrations across the province, pressing for parity in allowances similar to those given to federal employees.
The latest meeting was attended by provincial ministers Meena Khan Afridi and Ehtesham Khan on behalf of the government, along with two key representatives from the employees' side. While expectations were high for a breakthrough, the meeting concluded inconclusively, as the finance department was directed to submit a report on the fiscal impact of raising the allowance.
Sources said that while the government acknowledged the concerns of the employees, it refrained from committing to a timeline or specific figures until a detailed financial analysis is available. This lack of a concrete timeline has led to further frustration among employee unions, who have warned of intensifying their protest movement if the matter continues to be delayed.
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