The Gomal University Pensioners Association on Thursday urged the university administration to immediately restore full monthly pensions and release all outstanding arrears, saying the continued payment of only 50 per cent of pensions had left retired employees struggling to meet their daily expenses amid rising inflation.
Gomal University pensioners demand immediate payment of full pensions, arrears
Dera Ismail Khan, Aug 06 (APP):The Gomal University Pensioners Association on Thursday urged the university administration to immediately restore full monthly pensions and release all outstanding arrears, saying the continued payment of only 50 per cent of pensions had left retired employees struggling to meet their daily expenses amid rising inflation.
The demand was made during an emergency meeting of the association held under the patronage of Prof Jahangir Khan Mehsud and chaired by Pir Abdul Jabbar. A large number of retired employees attended the meeting and expressed serious concern over the reported reduction in monthly pension payments.
Addressing the meeting, the association’s office-bearers said the 50 per cent deduction in pensions was unacceptable, particularly when funds were reportedly available and a court decision existed regarding the issue. They urged the university administration to honour its legal and financial obligations towards retired employees.
The speakers said many pensioners had been waiting for the payment of arrears amounting to hundreds of thousands of rupees, while the soaring cost of living had made it increasingly difficult for them to manage household expenditures. They added that many retired employees were unable to meet essential expenses, including the education fees of their children, marriage expenses of their daughters and medical costs, due to the delay in the payment of pensions and arrears.
The meeting also elected a new cabinet of the association. Prof Jahangir Khan Mehsud was named Patron-in-Chief, Prof Mehboob ur Rehman President, Dr Waseem Akbar Sheikh Vice President, Pir Abdul Jabbar General Secretary, Allah Nawaz Khan Legal Secretary, while Arif Khan and Muhammad Akbar were elected Finance Secretaries.
The executive committee comprises Prof Himayatullah, Javed Qasuria, Dr Muhammad Iqbal, Naimatullah Khan, Liaqat Hussain, Inayat Jan and Muhammad Akbar.
The meeting decided that a delegation of pensioners would meet acting Vice Chancellor Dr Naimatullah next week to present the association’s concerns and seek an early resolution of the issue.
The association appealed to the Vice Chancellor and the Director Finance to ensure the immediate payment of full monthly pensions and all outstanding arrears to provide relief to retired employees facing severe financial hardship.
