Chandigarh, October 14
The Punjab Government today released another instalment of dearness allowance with effect from July 1 as a Divali gift to its employees.

Mr Lal Singh, Finance Minister, said today the DA would now be payable at the rate of 59 per cent instead of 55 per cent. It would be credited to the General Provident Fund (GPF) accounts of the employees up to September 30 but would be paid in cash from October 1.

In the case of pensioners, the DA instalment would be paid in cash with effect from July 1. This would cost the state exchequer over Rs 118 crore per annum and about Rs 79 crore in the current financial year.