G-B rescuers performing dangerous duties sans promised risk allowance

GILGIT: Ijlal Hussain, a responder with the Gilgit-Baltistan Emergency Service in Nagar, spent Sunday suspended over a river in Nagar district, using only two ropes to search for five members of a wedding party who went missing in the water.

Despite such life-threatening duties, Hussain and his 572 colleagues in Gilgit-Baltistan continue to work without the risk allowance that was approved by the regional assembly in 2021.

On March 9, 2021, the G-B assembly unanimously passed a joint resolution calling for the provision of a risk allowance for Rescue 1122 personnel, recognizing the dangerous nature of their work.

However, despite repeated reminders and assurances, the directive has yet to be implemented.

Rescue responders say they perform their duties with immense courage and a strong sense of humanitarian service, responding to emergencies such as fires, road accidents, water rescues, landslides, earthquakes, avalanches, and more. However, their low salaries and lack of benefits have left them facing both mental and financial stress.

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The responders have urged the government to acknowledge their sacrifices and provide the risk allowance, which they believe would motivate them to continue their work with even greater dedication and efficiency.

Gilgit District Emergency Officer Tahir Shah told HUM News English that their counterparts in Punjab receive four allowances, whereas they receive none. In Punjab, Rescue 1122 responders receive risk allowance, personal allowance, fixed TA/DA, and incentive allowance, he said.

According to documents available with HUM News English, a rescuer in Punjab receives 10 allowances, including Rs18,650 as risk allowance.

“We spoke to G-B Assembly members in 2021, and they passed a resolution to grant risk allowance and allowances for the work done during the pandemic. However, they said that these allowances would be provided in the next fiscal year, but now, they are pushing it to the next fiscal year again, and they are not including it in the Budget for 2025-26,” Shah added.

He highlighted that their job is a 24/7 responsibility, and in Punjab, responders are provided with up to 15 days of fixed daily allowance.

“We had requested these two facilities, but we are not being provided with them. Instead, they have even disconnected the Rs 1200 uniform wear and tear allowance,” he added.

Shah compared the salaries of his grade-11 staff with those of grade-7 police constables, noting that the latter are paid higher salaries.

“When we speak to the G-B chief minister, he says they cannot add everything to the budget but assures us that the risk allowance will be included,” Shah added.

He pointed out that the terrain in Gilgit-Baltistan is much more difficult and dangerous for rescue work compared to Punjab, yet Punjab responders are given risk allowances, while G-B responders are not.

“We are currently telling them to leave everything aside and at least include the risk allowance in the budget speech. However, the finance secretary is saying it will be considered for the next financial year. We have been waiting for that since 2021,” Shah concluded.

HUM News English tried to reach out to the chief secretary and the G-B home minister for comments, but they were unreachable.