Basic Pay Scales 2016: BPS-1 to BPS-22 Salary Chart and Allowances

Finance Division Office Memorandum F.No.1(2)Imp/2016-333 dated 1 July 2016 revised the Basic Pay Scales and allowances of Federal Government civil employees paid from Civil Estimates and Defence Estimates. BPS-2016 took effect from 1 July 2016, replacing BPS-2015. The memorandum also addressed pay fixation, annual increments, Ad-hoc Relief Allowance-2016, qualification pay, deputation and additional-charge allowances, frozen special allowances and the employee option between the 2015 and 2016 pay schemes.

Key Highlights of Basic Pay Scales 2016

• BPS-2016 replaced BPS-2015 with effect from 1 July 2016.
• Existing employees’ pay was fixed on a point-to-point basis, with personal pay beyond the scale maximum continuing at revised rates.
• Annual increments remained admissible on 1 December, subject to existing conditions.
• ARA-2016 was sanctioned at 10% of running basic pay of BPS-2016 for eligible employees.
• Qualification Pay rates and specified Deputation, Additional Charge and Current Charge allowances were revised.
• Existing employees had 30 days to submit a written option to remain under BPS-2015 or move to BPS-2016; an employee not submitting an option was deemed to have opted for BPS-2016.

Basic Pay Scales 2016 Salary Chart for BPS-1 to BPS-22

The table below reproduces the minimum pay, annual increment and maximum pay in the BPS-2016 scale. Amounts are in Pakistani rupees.

Pay Fixation for Existing Employees

The basic pay of an employee in service on 30 June 2016 was to be fixed in BPS-2016 on a point-to-point basis, at the stage corresponding to the employee’s position above the minimum of BPS-2015. Personal Pay being drawn beyond the maximum of the scale on 30 June 2016 was to continue at the revised rates.

Pay Fixation on Promotion and Annual Increment

Where an employee had been promoted to a higher post or scale before introduction of BPS-2016, pay was to be fixed so that it was not less than the pay that would have been admissible had the promotion taken place after introduction of the revised scales. Annual increment continued on 1 December each year, subject to the existing conditions.

Ad-hoc Relief Allowance-2016

The memorandum sanctioned Ad-hoc Relief Allowance-2016 at 10% of running basic pay of BPS-2016 for eligible Federal Government civil employees and the other groups identified in the memorandum, from 1 July 2016. It was subject to income tax, admissible during leave and LPR except extraordinary leave, excluded from pension/gratuity emoluments and House Rent recovery, and not admissible during posting or deputation abroad. It was admissible on repatriation at the amount that would have applied had the employee not been posted abroad, and during suspension.

Previous Ad-hoc Relief Allowances Ceased

The ARA-2013, ARA-2014 and ARA-2015 allowances identified in the memorandum ceased to exist from 1 July 2016. The memorandum also continued the Ad-hoc Allowance-2010 at its frozen level where admissible.

Revised Qualification Pay

The 2016 memorandum increased the monthly rates for the qualifications listed below:

The memorandum also states that CIMA and ACCA qualified employees may be allowed Qualification Pay at the same rate admissible for ICMA/ICWA.

Deputation, Additional Charge and Current Charge Allowances

The memorandum revised the monthly maximums for the listed allowances:

• Deputation Allowance: 20% of basic pay, maximum Rs.12,000 per month.
• Additional Charge of identical posts: 20% of basic pay, maximum Rs.12,000 per month.
• Additional Charge of non-identical posts: 10% of basic pay, maximum Rs.12,000 per month.
• Special Pay on Current Charge: 20% of basic pay, maximum Rs.12,000 per month.

Special Pay and Allowances Frozen at 30 June 2016

Special Pays, Special Allowances and allowances admissible as a percentage of pay (except those capped by fixing a maximum limit) were frozen at their level of admissibility on 30 June 2016. This included House Rent Allowance and the allowance/special allowance equal to one month’s basic pay, including coverage for civil employees in BPS-1 to BPS-22 of the Judiciary.

Option Between BPS-2015 and BPS-2016

Departments were required to obtain a written option from existing employees within 30 days from the date of issue of the memorandum to continue under BPS-2015 or move to BPS-2016. The option, once exercised, was final. An employee who did not submit an option within the specified time was deemed to have opted for BPS-2016.

Additional Finance Division Circular Dated 28 July 2016

The Finance Division archive separately lists a supplementary circular dated 28 July 2016 under the subject “Revision of Basic Pay Scales and Allowances of Civil Servants of the Federal Government (2016)”. It is provided here as a separate source document; consult its original wording for the specific supplementary direction.

Download the supplementary Finance Division circular dated 28 July 2016 (PDF).

Frequently Asked Questions

When did BPS-2016 take effect?

1 July 2016.

What was the ARA-2016 rate?

10% of running basic pay of BPS-2016 for eligible employees, subject to the memorandum’s conditions.

When was the annual increment admissible?

1 December each year, subject to existing conditions.

Could an employee choose to remain under BPS-2015?

Yes. A written option had to be submitted within 30 days. An employee who did not submit an option was deemed to have selected BPS-2016.

Did the memorandum revise Qualification Pay?

Yes. It revised monthly rates for SAS/PFA, ICMA/ICWA, CIMA/ACCA, Chartered Accountant, specified senior-officer courses and Mid Career Management Course.

Related EmployeesDesk Resources

For the next Federal pay-scale revision, see Basic Pay Scales 2017 and Basic Pay Scales 2022.

Official Finance Division Office Memorandum

Consult the original 1 July 2016 memorandum and its annexure for the full scheme: Download Basic Pay Scales and Allowances 2016 (PDF).