Supreme Court Doubles Utility Allowance for Staff

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court of Pakistan has approved a 100 percent increase in utility allowance for its employees across all grades, with the revised rates scheduled to take effect from July 1, 2026.

The decision was approved by the Chief Justice of Pakistan through an official notification, making the allowance revision applicable to staff members from the lowest pay scales to senior officers. The allowance is meant to cover utility-related expenses, including electricity and gas costs.

Under the revised structure, employees in grades 1 to 6 will receive Rs12,000 per month instead of Rs6,000. Staff members in grades 7 to 10 will receive Rs16,000, while those in grades 11 to 15 will now receive Rs20,000 instead of the previous Rs10,000.

The increase also applies to higher grades. Grade 16 officers will receive Rs24,000, grade 17 officers will receive Rs30,000, and grade 18 officers will receive Rs36,000 under the updated allowance schedule.

For senior officers, the notification sets the revised utility allowance at Rs42,000 for grade 19 and Rs48,000 for grade 20. Employees in grade 21 and above will receive Rs60,000, double the earlier amount of Rs30,000.

The official notification stated that the additional cost created by the allowance increase would be covered from the approved budget for the fiscal year 2026-27. This indicates that the measure has been aligned with available financial allocations rather than being treated as a separate unplanned expense.

The development comes at a time when public-sector employees across Pakistan continue to face rising household costs, particularly in electricity, gas and other essential services. Allowances linked to utilities have become increasingly important as inflation and energy tariffs affect monthly budgets.

The decision may also draw wider attention because it concerns staff of the country’s top court at a time when federal and provincial budgets are under public scrutiny. In many departments, salary adjustments, allowances and relief measures are being closely watched by employees and taxpayers alike.

For Pakistan’s public administration, the move reflects the growing pressure on institutions to support employees against higher living costs while staying within approved fiscal limits. It also shows how targeted allowances remain one of the tools used to provide relief without changing the entire salary structure.

The next step will be implementation from July 2026, when the revised allowance rates are expected to appear in staff payments. The financial impact will be monitored within the Supreme Court’s approved budget framework for the new fiscal year.