Brigadiers and above: Govt to align pays structure with civil, junior officers

ISLAMABAD: The government has decided to remove an anomaly in the pay structure of armed forces personnel from the rank of Brigadier and above, aligning it with the system applicable to civil government employees and junior military officers.

According to sources, the Ministry of Defence informed the Cabinet Committee on Legislative Cases (CCLC) in a recent meeting that federal civil employees have long been allowed the option of pay re-fixation upon promotion to a higher post or rank.

Under this provision, they can also draw their annual increment on presumptive pay in the pre-promotion rank.

READ ALSO: ‘Quarterly minimum wage revision, land reforms needed immediately’

Junior Commissioned Officers (JCOs) and soldiers are entitled to opt for re-fixation of pay upon promotion. However, army officers from the rank of Brigadier and above have so far been deprived of this facility.

The Promotion Board for officers from Lieutenant Colonel/Colonel to Brigadier is held in June. Officers commissioned in October (second half of the calendar year) are typically promoted to the rank of Brigadier. In some cases, officers assume charge of their new appointments prior to their date of commission in October, resulting in the loss of annual increment for that year—affecting both their pay and pension.

Under Rule 6(b)(2) of the Pay and Allowance Regulations, Volume-I (Army) 2014, pay is fixed based on the date of promotion or assumption of appointment. This anomaly affects officers from the rank of Brigadier up to Lieutenant General, and in certain cases has led to junior officers drawing higher pay than their seniors.

The Ministry of Defence further informed the committee that the General Headquarters (GHQ) had recommended an amendment to Rule 6(b)(2) to address the issue.

Under the proposed amendment, for officers of the rank of Brigadier and above, pay will be fixed at a stage above their existing pay, including rank pay, if any. If the increase in pay is equal to or less than one increment, one premature increment will be granted. Additionally, if an officer is promoted after rendering six months or more service following the grant of an annual increment in the lower rank, and their initial pay in the higher rank is fixed based on their last drawn pay, they may opt to have their pay fixed from the date of commission or promotion with reference to their presumptive pay in the lower rank.

The CCLC was informed that the proposal had the concurrence of the Personal Staff Officer (Adjutant General), on behalf of the Chief of Army Staff, as well as the Finance Division (Military Finance Wing).

After brief deliberations, the CCLC approved the Ministry of Defence’s proposal aimed at removing the pay anomaly affecting senior armed forces officers.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2026