Punjab government announces 8% dearness allowance increase for staff and pensioners

The Punjab state government issued an official notification today approving an eight‑percent increase in dearness allowance (DA) for all its civil servants and pensioners. The decision, announced by the Department of Personnel and Training, is intended to cushion the impact of rising living costs on government workers. The revised DA will be applied to the next salary and pension disbursement cycle, bringing the allowance in line with recent central government revisions. While the exact fiscal impact has not been disclosed, officials expect the move to add to the state's expenditure on personnel costs. The announcement has been welcomed by employee unions, who said the hike will help maintain the purchasing power of staff and retirees.