PM Orders Early Salary Disbursement for Federal Employees before Eid

Following the announcement of the 4-day extended Eid break (March 20–23), the Prime Minister has directed the Ministry of Finance and the Controller General of Accounts to ensure that funds reach employees’ accounts without delay. This proactive measure is part of the government’s broader “public relief” strategy during the ongoing regional tensions.

Implementation Details

The Cabinet Division and Finance Ministry have already begun coordinating with federal departments to expedite the payroll process:

• Scope: The order applies to all regular employees, daily wagers, and pensioners of the federal government.
• Coordination: Commercial banks have been advised to ensure that ATMs remain fully functional and stocked with cash through the long weekend.
• Provincial Mirroring: Following the federal lead, provincial governments (including Punjab, Sindh, and KP) are expected to issue similar notifications within the next 24 hours to ensure parity for provincial employees.

Economic Context: The “Austerity” Balance

This early disbursement comes at a time when the government is enforcing strict austerity measures:

• Shared Sacrifice: While employees receive their salaries early, senior officials in Grade-20 and above have already seen deductions as part of the national savings drive.
• Price Monitoring: The PM has directed local administrations to intensify market crackdowns during the pre-Eid shopping rush to prevent artificial price hikes in flour, sugar, and ghee.
• Fuel Stability: By providing salaries early, the government hopes to help citizens manage the recent fuel price adjustments before they embark on holiday travel.

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Important Reminders for Federal Employees

1. Bank Deadlines: Since banks will be closed from Friday, March 20, to Monday, March 23, employees are encouraged to perform any necessary branch-based transactions by Thursday afternoon.
2. Digital Banking: Use mobile apps (like the Pak App features) for utility bill payments and fund transfers to avoid long queues at bank branches during the limited hours today and tomorrow.
3. Austerity Compliance: Despite the early salary, the one-dish rule and 200-guest limit for social functions remain strictly enforced by local authorities throughout the holiday period.

Holiday At-A-Glance 

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