Government employees will receive arrears under the new National Pay Scale 2026 with their next salary, according to a finance ministry gazette notification issued on September 17.

The circular implements the new pay scale retrospectively from July 1, 2026, following the government’s approval on August 31 of the largest civil service pay hike since independence. The reform doubled the basic salary of top officials and raised the lowest grade pay by a record 142 percent.

Under the order, salary adjustments will be phased in:

• For Grades 10–20, 50 percent of the increase will be added from July to December 2026, rising to 75 percent in the first half of 2027, and reaching 100 percent with annual increments from July 2027.
• For Grades 1–9, 40 percent of the increase will be disbursed in the second half of 2026, 70 percent in the first half of 2027, and full adjustment from July 2027.

All allowances will continue at existing rates until December 31, 2027, with revised rates taking effect from January 1, 2028.

The last national pay scale was introduced in 2015, marking the highest hike until now, with basic pay rising by 95 percent in the top grade and 101 percent in the lowest.