Last Updated on October 30, 2025 by Galaxy World
Government of Pakistan, Ministry of Finance issued a Notification on 30-10-2025 in connection with Clarification 36 Basic Pay and Interest Free HBA for Assistants, Assistant Private Secretaries (APS) and others. The details are as follows:
Clarification 36 Basic Pay and Interest Free HBA for Assistants
As per the Notification, the undersigned is directed to refer to the Ministry of Law and Justice’s letter dated 9th September 2025 on the subject.
2. It is clarified that as per Rules 2(xxxv) and 2(xxxvi) of the Federal Government Receipt & Payment Rules, 2025 (copy attached) the term “officers” refers to a government servant holding a post in Basic Pay Scale (BPS) 17 or above, while “official” refers to a government servant serving in BPS 1-16 respectively.
3. Furthermore, Rule 80(6) of the aforementioned Rules stipulates that the amount of House Building Advance shall not exceed 24 months’ pay for a Government officer, and 36 months’ pay for a Government official.
4. Further necessary action may be taken accordingly.
Request For Grant Of House Building Advance (HBA) Equivalent To 36 Basic Pays And Waiver Of Interest To The Assistants (BPS-15/16 Non-Gazetted) Working In Federal Government
It is respectfully submitted that under the General Financial Rules, interest on House Building Advance (HBA) is not chargeable to non-gazetted officials, which includes the post of Assistant. However, it has been learnt that after full repayment of the HBA, a few officials in the cadre of Assistant have been asked for payment of interest on the HBA granted to them. Sir, it is worth mentioning that in light of the Establishment Division’s O.M. No. 1/13/96-R dated 10.08.2016 (Annex-I), the post of Assistant was upgraded from BPS-14 to BPS-15, and BPS-16 was granted as a one-time dispensation w.e.f. 01.07.2016 to existing incumbents. Accordingly, the substantive pay scale of the post of Assistant remains BPS-15, and Assistants received BPS-16 as a one-time dispensation. Hence, the position of Assistant falls under the non-gazetted category, and Assistants are not liable for interest on HBA.
Foregoing in view, the Office of AGPR, Islamabad was approached for clarification, however, it was informed that the AGPR SAP System treats Assistants (BPS-15/16) as gazetted officers despite the fact that the post of Assistant has never been declared gazetted, nor any gazetted privileges or perks are being extended to the officials holding position of Assistant in the Federal Government.
Furthermore, it has come to light that under the Federal Government (Receipts and Payments) Rules, 2025, issued via S.R.O. 484(I)/2025 dated 28th March 2025 (Annex-II), the AGPR SAP system entertains Assistants as gazetted officers for HBA purposes, thereby restricting the advance to 24 basic pays instead of 36, which applies to non-gazetted officials.
In light of the above, the following is most humbly requested:
I. That Assistants of the Federal Government, being non-gazetted officials, be granted House Building Advance equivalent to 36 months’ basic pay in accordance with existing rules.
ii. That interest on the previously granted House Building Advance may be waived, as Assistants are exempt from such interest under the relevant financial rules.
