The federal government has formally extended the MPhil allowance of Rs2,500 per month to government employees holding qualifications recognised as equivalent to an MPhil degree by the Higher Education Commission (HEC). The Finance Division issued the notification on September 14, confirming the extension under existing rules.

The decision means employees who possess an HEC-recognised equivalent qualification can also receive the allowance, subject to the prescribed conditions. They will be required to provide an equivalence certificate issued through the relevant HEC process to establish that their qualification is equivalent to MPhil.

Decision takes effect from July

According to the notification, the extended allowance will take effect from July 17, 2026. The Finance Division said the existing MPhil allowance was already available to employees holding recognised MPhil degrees.

The allowance was originally introduced under a Finance Division memorandum issued in July 2016. It is linked to the PhD allowance and is calculated at 25 per cent of the applicable PhD allowance, currently amounting to Rs2,500 per month.

HEC equivalence certificate required

The latest order clarifies the eligibility of employees whose qualifications are formally declared equivalent to MPhil by HEC. The benefit will therefore cover eligible government employees who meet the documentation and other conditions set by the Finance Division.

The move expands the scope of the existing MPhil allowance while maintaining the requirement for recognised academic equivalence.