*Ombudsman orders officers concerned to ensure hassle-free payment of pension to retired employees
Punjab Ombudsman Javed Mahmood has urged all officers concerned to avoid creating hindrances in the payment of legitimate dues to pensioners and their families.
“Ultimately you will also retire from service and will have to face the tricks of exploitation you have introduced for the pensioners”, the ombudsman said while commenting Wednesday on the complaints of pensioners.
He said that the Supreme Court of Pakistan has already ordered for payment of double pension to the pensioners who had attained the age of 75 years, even then the poor pensioners daily visit offices, appeal for their rights and return homes with empty hands.
He said that 754 families of deceased pensioners were denied payment of group insurance in Punjab despite knocking doors of each office concerned.
The ombudsman told the authorised 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.
Punjab Pension Cell Incharge Mohtasib Wazir Ahmad Qureshi said that an amount of Rs 172 million was required to meet the payments of the 754 families of deceased pensioners on account of group insurance.
