Different Notifications on Cabinet Members’ Donations to Flood Victims Cause Confusion

A wave of confusion emerged on Wednesday as conflicting government notifications appeared to contradict each other regarding the donation of federal cabinet members’ salaries for flood victims in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Gilgit-Baltistan. The Finance Division issued a notification suggesting the withdrawal of an earlier directive requiring cabinet members to donate one month’s salary. However, in a separate notification, the same division announced that senior bureaucrats in Grades 19 to 22 would contribute one day’s salary to support flood relief efforts. Amid the apparent contradictions, officials from the Prime Minister’s Office stepped in to clarify the situation. They confirmed that the decision for cabinet members to donate one month’s salary had not been rescinded. Instead, the salaries would be donated through a separate notification issued by the Cabinet Division. The Cabinet Division’s notification stated: “The prime minister has directed that all federal ministers, ministers of state, advisers, and special assistants to the prime minister shall contribute one month’s salary for flood relief.” A senior official from the Prime Minister’s Office explained that the confusion arose because the Finance Division manages the salaries of bureaucrats, while the Cabinet Division oversees the salaries and perks of cabinet members. “Although the Finance Division’s notification may have created the impression that the prime minister’s announcement was withdrawn, the ministers will indeed donate their monthly salaries to the flood victims,” the official assured. In a subsequent clarification, the Finance Division stated that contributions would be calculated based on gross pay and allowances before deductions. It also noted that these contributions would not be included in the taxable emoluments of officers and officials.