Government of Pakistan, Ministry of Finance, issued a Notification on 04-08-2026 in connection with Freezing Adhoc Relief Allowance 2024 @ 25% & 20% of Running Basic Pay. The details are as follows:
Freezing Adhoc Relief Allowance 2024 @ 25% & 20% of Running Basic Pay
According to the Notification, as per para-7 of Finance Division’s O.M.No.F.1(2)Imp/2026 dated 21-07-2026, all the Special Pays, Special Allowances or the Allowances admissible as a percentage of pay shall stand frozen at the level of their admissibility as on 30-06-2026. Several queries have been raised with regard to treatment to be given to Ad-hoc Relief Allowances-2023 and 2024. To prevent confusion, the following clarification is made.
Clarification Adhoc Relief Allowance 2023 @ 35% and 30%
- a) ARA-2023 is already frozen at the level of its admissibility as on 30-06-2023;
- b) All the new entrants shall be allowed Adhoc Relief Allowance 2023 @ 35% (BPS-1 to BPS-16) and 30% (BPS-17 to BPS-22) of the minimum of the relevant Revised Basic Pay Scales 2022 on a notional basis with effect from 01-07-2026 till further orders and shall stand frozen at the same level.
Freezing / Clarification ARA 2024
a) ARA-2024 @ 25% (BPS-01 to BPS-16) and 20% (BPS-17 to BPS-22) of the basic pay of Basic Pay Scales 2022 shall stand frozen at the level of its admissibility as on 30-06-2026;
b) All the new entrants shall be allowed Adhoc Relief Allowance-2024 @ 25% (from BPS-01 to BPS-16) and @ 20% (from BPS-17 to BPS-22) of the minimum of the relevant Revised Basic Pay Scales2022 on a notional basis with effect from 01-07-2026 till further orders and shall stand frozen at the same level.
Summary
As per the above clarification, Adhoc Relief Allowance 2024 (ARA) will be frozen with effect from 1st July 2026, and new comers will get the ARA-2024 on the initial of Basic Pay Scales 2022. However, the employees will get Adhoc Relief Allowance 2026 still unfrozen, and it will increase with the increase in Basic Pay of the employees.
