ISLAMABAD - The Civil Aviation Authoritys Board is set to take a controversial decision during its meeting today (Thursday) that would allegedly brew more fume to the already prevailing crisis triggered by the launch of countrywide protests by CAA officers who have decided to go by the book due to governments apathy towards their demands. The CAA Board is scheduled to approve 40 per cent salary increase today for the CAA staff members, overlooking the CAA officers, as ad hoc relief - a development that allegedly aims at creating rift between the CAA officers and staff members. Last week, the CAA officers from their united platform of Civil Aviation Authority Officers Association of Pakistan (CAAOAP) launched countrywide protests against the denial of due increase in their salaries for the last two years. These officers, slamming the attitude of their high-ups, deplore that instead of addressing their grievances, the authorities are adding fuel to fire by trying to create rift between the CAA officers and staff members. In a press conference scheduled on Friday (tomorrow) in Lahore, the Central Executive Committee of CAAOAP would announce new schedule for protests. Sources said that the CAAOAP had decided to go by the book option and it would disrupt the air and ground operations at all the 42 airports in the days ahead. In principle, the CAA officers are entitled to 85 per cent salary increase that has been due over last two years. The CAA Board in January 2011 approved only 45 per cent salary increase, and even this increase was never granted. The CAA employees on the other hand, were given all the due salary increases that created anomaly. After the CAA Board forwarded the case to defence ministry, Additional Secretary Military Finance Sarshaar Ahmed allegedly delayed the case on one pretext or the other despite that he was part of the CAA Board that had approved the salary increase. He raised the objection that the allocated budget for officers increased salaries was Rs 500 million while the 'financial impact resulting with this increase was Rs 820 million. At the moment, the particular file gathers dust at Finance Ministry for the section officer concerned is reportedly 'sick. President CAAOAP, Ghulam Mustafa Mirani, informed The Nation that CAA contributed over Rs 7 billion in the national exchequer last year. We work tirelessly to improve the working standards of CAA. Our salary increase is due since 2001 in general and since 2009 in particular but the government gurus are totally numb towards our demands, he said. He did not give the details of future protests but said that the governments apathy was pushing the things for worse. We are running short of patience and we would think of decisive options, he said. When contacted, CAA spokesperson Pervaiz George, said that the CAA officers salary increase case was forwarded to defence and finance ministries and the case was in process, to be implemented accordingly. To a query regarding todays Board meeting, he said, Issues related to salaries of officers and employees are seriously taken up and a decision that is acceptable to all is tried to be reached at. Hopefully, this matter would be solved amicably.