PESHAWAR: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Inspector General of Police (IGP) Zulfiqar Hameed has formally written to Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur, urging the provincial government to declare the province a “hard area” and raise police salaries to match those offered in Balochistan.
In his letter, the IGP noted that KP faced persistent threats from both internal and cross-border terrorism, making policing in the province as demanding as in Balochistan, which had already received “hard area” status.
He argued that KP police personnel continued to make greater sacrifices but were compensated less than their counterparts in other provinces, and this pay disparity was causing unrest and dissatisfaction within the force.
The letter said that implementing the proposed changes would place an annual financial burden of Rs2.199 billion. KP, the province most affected by terrorism, currently offers the lowest police salaries in the country. The disparity in compensation becomes more glaring at higher ranks, with many officers from KP seeking transfers to other provinces for better financial opportunities. Conversely, officers from other provinces are hesitant to accept postings in KP due to the added security risks and lower pay.
At the basic pay scale (BS-7), a constable in KP earns Rs69,127, compared to Rs73,000 in Punjab, Rs69,520 in Sindh, and Rs69,885 in Balochistan. A head constable (BS-9) earns Rs76,996 in KP, while in Punjab the pay is Rs80,198, in Sindh Rs76,895, and in Balochistan Rs77,211.
Similarly, an assistant sub-inspector (BS-11) in KP gets Rs86,579, compared to Rs88,583 in Punjab and Rs88,488 in Sindh. Sub-inspectors (BS-14) in KP receive Rs107,904, lagging behind Punjab’s Rs114,503, Sindh’s Rs114,871, and Balochistan’s Rs109,510.
For inspectors (BS-16), the salary in KP is Rs137,081, compared to Rs141,680 in Punjab, Rs144,738 in Sindh, and Rs137,444 in Balochistan. The disparity becomes substantial at higher ranks: deputy superintendents of police (DSPs/ASPs) in BS-17 receive Rs184,867 in KP, while in Punjab they earn Rs233,930, in Sindh Rs177,562, and in Balochistan Rs453,727. Superintendents of police (BS-18) in KP earn Rs232,531, compared to Rs373,487 in Punjab, Rs299,496 in Sindh, and a significant Rs607,706 in Balochistan.
The salary for senior superintendents of police or additional inspector generals (BS-19) is Rs326,529 in KP, compared to Rs495,550 in Punjab, Rs362,820 in Sindh, and Rs679,147 in Balochistan.
Deputy IGs (BS-20) in KP receive Rs372,669, while their counterparts earn Rs579,361 in Punjab, Rs402,451 in Sindh, and Rs746,172 in Balochistan.
Additional IGs (BS-21) in KP get Rs423,863, whereas Punjab pays Rs694,507 and Balochistan Rs746,172. The top post — IGP (BS-22)—earns Rs778,747 in KP, compared to Rs837,953 in Punjab, Rs813,485 in Sindh, and an exceptional Rs1,148,244 in Balochistan.–Agencies
