AJK Govt Approves 30% DRA Increase for All Government Employees
The Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) government has officially approved a 30% increase in the Disparity Reduction Allowance (DRA) for all regular government employees from Basic Pay Scale (BPS) 1 to 22, as confirmed in a notification issued by the AJK Finance Department.
Effective from July 1, 2025
The revised allowance will take effect from July 1, 2025, meaning employees will begin receiving increased salaries in August 2025. According to the official document, the allowance will be calculated based on basic pay as of June 30, 2022.
Employees appointed after July 1, 2022, will receive the allowance based on the 2017 pay scale, and not the revised 2022 scale.
Applies to All Regular Government Employees
This increase applies to all regular civil servants, including those in:
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Administrative roles
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Clerical positions
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Technical and support services
However, the revised allowance does not apply to individuals hired after July 2022 under the 2022 pay scale structure.
A Move Toward Pay Equity
The Disparity Reduction Allowance is a policy tool designed to address salary imbalances between different departments and service groups within the public sector. The decision comes amid continued economic pressures and inflation that are impacting household incomes across the region.
“This step ensures pay parity across civil services and aligns with the federal government’s recent policy,” stated a senior finance official.
Follows Federal Government’s Lead
Earlier in July 2025, the federal government also approved a 30% DRA increase for employees in similar pay grades. The AJK government’s decision aims to maintain consistency in public sector compensation and minimize income disparities.
Conclusion
This move is expected to provide financial relief to thousands of AJK government employees while ensuring fair compensation practices across departments. With inflationary challenges ongoing, the allowance boost may offer some stability for public servants in the months ahead.
