Are there plans to delay government employee salaries?

The finance ministry on Saturday rejected “baseless” news carried by a private news channel suggesting an alleged delay in the release of funds for development projects and salaries.

In a statement, the ministry spokesman rebuked the report by a private news channel, implying that there would be a delay in the release of funds for development projects and salaries of federal government employees.

However, the ministry’s spokesman called it “completely baseless and false”.

“It would be appropriate for the news channel to contact the representative of the Finance Department,” the statement said, lamenting that the relevant forum was not approached on this matter.

The statement emphasized that Pakistan remains on track to meet all International Monetary Fund (IMF) program commitments as evidenced by the smooth and successful completion of the Staff Level Agreement (SLA) of the first revision.

The official also elaborated on the details of important fiscal points regarding the availability of funds, adding that the finance department has already released the funds for the second quarter (second fiscal quarter) for both current (salary pensions and non-ERE) and development expenditure.

In addition, the Directorate of Planning, Development and Special Initiative (PD&SI) has approved corresponding funds for development expenditure to the relevant ministries.

No change has been made by the Finance Department or the Planning Department in the launch strategy as wrongly reported by the particular channel, the statement said.

Furthermore, the statement highlighted that the Finance Directorate has released all the funds for Q2 (second fiscal quarter) for the Benazir Income Support Program (BISP) and the transfer to the beneficiaries has already started.

Similarly, all the funds earmarked for subsidizing the power sector, as per the requirements of the Circular Debt Management Plan (CDMP), have been released by the department, the spokesperson added.

In the meantime, staying true to tradition, the release of salary to the Christian community before Christmas has been ensured by the Finance Department.

The statement highlighted that revenue collection by the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) and NTR collection by other ministries is fully on track.

“These facts clearly prove that the news in question was broadcast without any evidence and without having the government’s point of view,” he added.