Government should revisit Indexation System of Pension: Ombudsman

Lahore: Ombudsman Punjab Javed Mahmood has said that the current situation was creating galloping inflation with the result fixed income groups including pensioners are hard hit. After paying utility bills, high cost of medicines and eatables, pensioners are left with nothing to eat. The family members and relatives in the society, in spite of wish and love, cannot help. He said that the society could not support and feed the pensioners in compliance of moral and religious duties. As dignified living was impossible so the Punjab Government should revisit and implement Indexation System of Pension, introduced by the former Finance Minister Dr. Mehboob ul Haq, without further loss of time and not put the pensioners in hardship and agonies of life, suggested Ombudsman Punjab.

This was revealed by Incharge Mohtasib Punjab Pension Cell, Wazir Ahmad Qureshi while talking to the participants of khuli kucheri organized in connection with the “Pensioner’s Day” at Ombudsman Office Lahore.

Wazir Ahmad Qureshi said that under new complaints handling policy introduced by the Ombudsman Punjab, any one can lodge complaint about pension issue pertaining to any institution whether it belongs to Punjab Government or Federal Government departments. We will entertain all kinds of complaints on “Pensioner’s Day” and forward the same to concerned authorities, said Wazir Ahmad Qureshi. Ombudsman Punjab has proposed Punjab Government to consider and examine the Indexation System of Pension, introduced by the former Finance Minister Dr. Mehboob ul Haq and take steps to re-introduce Indexation System for the helpless and needy pensioners of the province. The participants of khuli kucheri offered Fateha for deceased  Rab Nawaz, the retired employee of Pakistan Railway who lost his life while struggling to get his pensionnary benefits at Railway Office, a couple of days back.

Following “Pensioner’s Day” at Ombudsman Punjab Office, Punjab Government alongwith all the departments of federal government must dedicate a day for pensioners, every month, to avoid such incidents of death of retiring persons like Rab Nawaz, demanded Wazir Ahmad Qureshi. Rich tribute was paid to deceased Rab Nawaz as he spent his life while struggling for the rights of pensioners and the matter of fact is that he himself passed away without getting pension. Wazir Ahamd Qureshi told that relief has been provided to 90 % of complainants visited Pensioner’s Day in December and to 80 % complaints who lodged their applications on Pensioner’s Day in January.