ISLAMABAD: Employees of Radio Pakistan have voiced concerns over the implementation of the federal government’s recently announced seven percent salary increase for federal GOVT. employees, saying they are still waiting for the pay raise and benefits announced in the previous
budget.
According to a senior Radio Pakistan employee, who spoke on condition of anonymity, workers remain uncertain whether the latest increase will actually be reflected in their salaries, given their past experience with unimplemented government announcements.
“The government announces salary increases in the budget, but that does not necessarily mean the funds reach us in full,” the employee said. “Last year’s increase for government employees
was announced, but Radio Pakistan employees have yet to receive it.”
The employee explained that one of the key reasons behind the problem is the financial mechanism through which the organisation receives funding. According to the source, Radio Pakistan relies on budgetary allocations routed through the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, which in turn seeks funding from the federal government.
“The issue is not that the increases are not announced. The issue is that the required funds are often not released in full,” the employee said. “If an organisation requires a certain amount to cover salaries and operational expenses, only a portion of that amount may be provided, leaving management to adjust expenditures within limited resources.”
The source claimed that financial constraints have affected not only salary increases but also several employee benefits. According to the employee, medical facilities and other welfare related benefits that were previously available to staff have either been reduced or suspended due to a lack of funds.
“Many benefits that employees used to receive are no longer available because the organisation is facing funding shortages,” the source said. “Medical related facilities and transport related
support have been affected, and employees have been bearing the burden of these cuts.”
The employee said staff members fear that the newly announced seven percent salary increase could face similar implementation challenges unless adequate funds are released to the
organisation.
“There is concern among employees that the increase announced this year could end up like the previous one,” the source said. “We are hopeful, but we have seen promises before that did not
materialise.”
According to the employee, workers have raised the matter with the Director General of Radio Pakistan and urged the management to ensure that at least the latest salary increase is implemented without delay.
“We have conveyed our concerns to the Director General and requested that the increase announced in this year’s budget be passed on to employees,” the source said. “We have been assured that efforts will be made to implement it, but at this stage there is no certainty regarding when or whether it will be fully reflected in salaries.”
Employees say the issue goes beyond the latest budget announcement and reflects broader concerns about the financial health of the state broadcaster. They argue that without adequate and timely funding, Radio Pakistan will continue to face difficulties in meeting its obligations to employees.
The concerns come at a time when government employees across the country are grappling with rising living costs and inflation. Radio Pakistan workers say they are seeking not only the implementation of the newly announced salary increase but also the release of benefits and adjustments that remain pending from previous years.
