At least 600,000 fake pensioners have been identified in various government institutions.
National Bank of Pakistan officials told a Senate committee that 600,000 ghost pensioners have been removed from the pensioners’ lists during the last six months. Officials said that majority of the ghost pensioners were identified in EOBI, Pakistan Army and other federal government institutions.
NBP officials told the committee that it was revealed on the time of account opening that the pensioners had died long ago and some other people had been receiving the pensions in their names. They said that the number of pensioners registered with the NBP has now reduced from 2,200,000 to 1,600,000.
“Pensioners are now being provided with ATM cards for withdrawing their pensions, however, biometric verification has been made mandatory so that ghost pensioners can be removed,” said the officials.
The committee has recommended opening of the bank accounts of the pensioners and expediting their verifications.