LAHORE: Punjab’s civil bureaucracy has launched a lucrative loan scheme, offering loans from Rs5 million to Rs25 million to the “PAS (Pakistan Administrative Service) and PMS (Provincial Management Service) officers only” at just two per cent interest rate, sparking allegations of favouritism and burdening taxpayers.

The civil officers will be given concessional loans from the Welfare Endowment Fund (WEF) created during the caretaker chief minister Mohsin Naqvi’s tenure – reportedly persuaded by a top bureaucrat.

The WEF creation was given a nod by the then caretaker Punjab cabinet, allowing Rs5 billion from the provincial kitty as seed money for the fund.

The bureaucracy on Friday distributed a pamphlet titled: “Welfare Endowment Fund: A landmark initiative of Chief Secretary Punjab for PAS and PMS officers – serving in Punjab,” and sought applications from the top civil officers for the loan.

The pamphlet flashes a slogan: “Empowering officers, strengthening our community.”

The officers can apply for the concessional loan for car financing, house building, personal/ children education support and medical treatment (for family).

The PAS and PMS officers in BS-17 can apply for a loan up to Rs5m; BS-18 for up to Rs15m; BS-19 and BS-20 for up to Rs20m; while the BS-21 and BS-22 officers can apply for a loan up to Rs25m.

Sources in the bureaucracy say the WEF was immediately established, while the funds were also transferred for the purpose during the past (2023-24) financial year.

“The WEF has, however, been made functional now. It has begun with a soft launch by just printing and distributing pamphlets and announcing that the PAS and PMS officers serving Punjab can apply,” a well-placed source told Dawn.

He says that while the WEF loan policy still awaits a formal notification, the welfare wing under the additional chief secretary has started receiving loan applications from the officers. Some 15 officers submitted loan applications just on Friday, he adds.

Those excluded from the scheme say that the Punjab government is doling out billions of rupees for pay raise, increase in allowances and offering “almost interest-free” loans to the pampered civil servants as well as politicians, while the masses are reeling under massive inflation.

A number of senior officers serving in the secretariat, speaking to Dawn anonymously, expressed their grave concern over their exclusion from the loan facility.

Similarly, the representatives of grade-1 to grade-16 employees say the officers always get such monetary favours in the form of increase in salaries, allowances and other facilities, while the lower staff is always ignored in this regard.

This week, the Punjab Assembly members, parliamentary secretaries, advisors, ministers, deputy speaker and speaker have got a massive increase in their salaries, that is bound to burden the government kitty with around a billion rupees per year.

Meanwhile, sources in the bureaucracy say the Punjab cabinet that met on Thursday also approved a special allowance of 40 percent of the basic pay for BS-20 and BS-21 officers.

Published in Dawn, December 21st, 2024