BackMaladministration in payment of pension is a perennial problem affecting millions in this country. Employees in old age have to run from pillar to post. In recent years the Federal Ombudsman of Pakistan has provided relief to thousands who approached the office.
A major TV news channel some days back showed the plight of thousands of old men and women waiting in long lines in front of many branches of the National Bank in Karachi. In some cases they were waiting since 03:00AM.
Subsequent to these reports and ever growing problems of pensioners, The Federal Ombudsman of Pakistan, taking suo-moto notice, has constituted a high powered committee to conduct a thorough study of the pension system of all federal agencies and suggest reforms to make it more efficient and transparent. Mr. Tanvir Ali Agha, former Auditor General of Pakistan has been made Chairman of this committee along with a number of former Federal Secretaries who have worked in Establishment and Finance Divisions and in other key assignments in the audit and accounts organization.
The committee has been asked to finalize its report within 45 days.
It would be recalled that a committee was constituted some time back to improve the system of pension in Pakistan Railways and a comprehensive set of proposals were developed, which received not only the appreciation of the higher authorities of the railway department but has brought considerable relief to thousands of railway pensioners.
Source: The Federal Ombudsman of Pakistan
