The Senate Standing Committee on Science and Technology has recommended the introduction of a technical allowance for engineers across Pakistan, marking a significant step toward addressing a long-standing demand of the engineering community.
The recommendation was made during a committee session where officials reviewed disparities in compensation for technical professionals. The proposal calls for the allowance to be implemented uniformly across all provinces and federal institutions.
During the meeting, Khadim Hussain Bhatti, Registrar of the Pakistan Engineering Council, briefed members on the issue. He emphasized that engineers have consistently demanded a technical allowance in recognition of their specialized skills and responsibilities.
Bhatti highlighted that similar benefits are already granted to various professional groups, including medical officers, judges, civil servants, pilots, and paramilitary personnel. He argued that extending such an allowance to engineers would ensure fairness and improve morale within the sector.
The committee was informed that the technical allowance has already been approved in several regions, including Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, and Gilgit-Baltistan. However, implementation is still pending in Sindhand Balochistan, where approval processes are ongoing.
Officials also noted that while some federal institutions, such as Indus River System Authority and the Pakistan Engineering Council, have already introduced the allowance, it has not yet been adopted consistently across all departments.
Bhatti stressed the need to eliminate disparities between federal and provincial engineers, urging authorities to ensure equal benefits nationwide.
Committee members acknowledged the vital role engineers play in national development and supported the proposal, stating that the allowance should be extended without delay.
The committee further directed the Ministry of Science and Technology to take charge of the matter and begin the formal process for implementing the technical allowance across the country.
