Islamabad, Apr 4, 2025: Over the past three years, the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has allocated more funds toward allowances for its officers than salaries, as disclosed by official reports.
From 2021 to 2024, PTA spent a total of Rs. 100 million on allowances for Grade 17 and above officers, outpacing the Rs. 78 million spent on their salaries during the same period.
According to the data shared with Parliament, in the fiscal year 2021-22, PTA officers received Rs. 22.1 million in salaries, while allowances amounted to Rs. 29.75 million.
The following year, in 2022-23, salary payments totaled Rs. 25.6 million, and allowances soared to Rs. 34.5 million.
The disparity grew further in 2023-24, when salaries reached Rs. 29.5 million, while allowances exceeded Rs. 35.5 million.
In 2023-24, the PTA had a total of 100 officers in BPS-17 and above, including 47 in BPS-17, 13 in BPS-18, 30 in BPS-19, and 10 in BPS-20.
Officers in the highest grade, BPS-20, earned Rs. 3.91 million in salaries, accompanied by Rs. 3.34 million in allowances.
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BPS-19 officers received Rs. 9.13 million in salary and Rs. 7.70 million in allowances. In contrast, BPS-17 officers, who comprised the largest group, were paid Rs. 8.95 million in salary and Rs. 11.64 million in allowances.
Despite these significant financial allocations, PTA officers are not entitled to official cars, fuel allowances, or mobile reimbursements.
Instead, officers in BPS-19 and above are offered monetization benefits, while those in BPS-17 and BPS-18 receive conveyance allowances.
This policy aligns with the government’s focus on fiscal discipline but also raises concerns regarding the PTA’s escalating financial obligations.
