NA body discusses challenges faced by pensioners

ISLAMABAD, Nov 20 (APP): The National Assembly Standing Committee on Parliamentary Affairs under the Chairmanship of MNA Rana Iradat Sharif Khan, on Thursday discussed the challenges faced by pensioners and payment delays.
The meeting held here was briefed by Secretary, Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs, on the challenges faced by pensioners, particularly delays in the disbursement of retirement benefits, requirements for proof of life, delays in the payment of pension arrears, unexplained suspension of pension payments, calculation errors, and the lack of a sympathetic attitude among officials handling pension cases.
The Committee was informed that the State Bank of Pakistan confirmed that biometric ‘proof of life’ verification is being conducted through Pakistani embassies abroad. It was further apprised that NADRA has developed a mobile application enabling facial-recognition-based proof of life, which will facilitate pensioners residing in remote areas as well as those living overseas.
The representative from railway briefed the Committee that the Pakistan Railways (PR), an attached department of the Railways Division, was the only federal entity that financed pensions for its retired employees from its own resources, in contrast, pensions for employees of all other federal departments are paid by the Finance Division through AGPR. Pakistan Railways continues to face serious financial challenges due to its large and rising pension and salary liabilities, low revenue generation, an aging infrastructure base, outdated systems, high operating expenses (especially fuel and utilities), and an underdeveloped freight sector. As a result, PR remains heavily dependent on Federal Government Grant-in-Aid to manage its financial shortfalls. Since FY 2013-14, the gap between receipts and expenditures has widened due to low revenue growth and insufficient Grant-in-Aid allocations.
The Committee recommended that all employees who have served in the Railways are fully entitled to receive their pensions without hindrance and in a timely manner.
Following an extensive and detailed discussion, the Committee recommended that in the next meeting the Ministry of Railways present a concrete plan or way forward outlining measures to improve the existing pension process.
The meeting was attended by MNAs Raja Qamar-ul-Islam, Shaikh Aftab Ahmed, Ch. Mahmood Bashir Virk, Ms. Shazia Fareed, Malik Shah, Ms. Izbal Zehri, Naveed Aamir, Ms. Muneeba Iqbal, Ms. Naeema Kishwer Khan and Hameed Hussain.
Secretary Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs and other senior officers of the Ministry of Railways, Finance and AGPR also attended the meeting.