Officers to review the policy of pushing the pensioners to the wall :Ombudsman Punjab

Lahore: Ombudsman Punjab, Javed Mahmood has called upon authorized Officers to review the policy of pushing the pensioners and families of deceased pensioners to the wall and avoid creating hindrances in payment of their legitimate dues. He reminded the authorized officers that ultimately they would get retirement from service and would have to face themselves all such kind of tricks and ways of exploitation, being introduced by them as this is consequences of actions. Families of as many as 754 deceased pensioners are being rebuffed for group insurance dues and no one is coming up to pay heal to their wounds.

Talking to retired employees and family members of deceased employees, Ombudsman Punjab Javed Mahmood said that poor pensioners, attaining the age of 75, are wandering about for their own money on account of double pension. Supreme Court of Pakistan has already ordered for the payment of double pension to the pensioners attaining the age of 75, dismissing the review petitions of punjab government even then the pensioners daily visit offices, appeal for their rights and return homes with empty hands. I am unable to understand that as to why the pensioners are being punished for dedicating youth and their valuable time of life for government service? asked Ombudsman Punjab.

He said that poor and aged pensioners are half dead while family members of deceased pensioners are being humiliated by denial of payment of their group insurance dues. A dedicated amount on account of group insurance is deducted from the salary of each employee till the date of superannuation but the same is not reimbursed to him at the time of retirement. Amount of group insurance is not even paid during the life span of the pensioner and the payment is made only if he dies. In other words life of the government is not insured but his death.

The most amazing aspect of the issue is that as many as 754 families of deceased pensioners are denied of the payment of group insurance in punjab despite of knocking doors of each concerned office. Ombudsman Punjab recalled the authorized officers that they were custodians of their serving and retired employees and they should open doors of their offices, be merciful and act to protect the rights of the retired and serving employees. Decision to dedicate 15th of every month as “Pensioner’s Day” in all district office of Ombudsman Punjab is made to help pensioners and their families for payment of their legitimate rights and I am encouraged by positive feedback, concluded Ombudsman Punjab Javed Mahmood.

Incharge Mohtasib Punjab Pension Cell Wazir Ahmad Qureshi told that an amount of Rs. 172 million was required to meet the payments of 754 families of deceased pensioners on account of group insurance. Group insurance amount was deducted from the salaries of employees therefore it was pensioners own money and punjab government would have to clear this liability. He hoped that concerned authorities of Islamic Republic of Pakistan will make justice to the old pensioners and family members of deceased retired employees.