Pensioner’s woes

According to the government’s decision, pensions which used to be paid through the NBP, are now being paid through accounts of pensioners that they have opened in any bank of their choice. This step was supposed to ease some of the difficulties faced by pensioners. Instead, this decision has caused much trouble and financial loss to pensioners.

I am a 73-year-old federal government pensioner with health problems. My only source of living is pension apart from some lifelong savings. Every month I used to get my pension in cash or sometimes it would be deposited in my account with the same NBP branch. Now with the new procedure, I had to spend time and effort to get the file transferred to the Accountant General Pakistan Revenues (AGPR) and get the stamped paper undertaking deposited with the new bank where I have asked my pension to be deposited. To my horror, the AGPR has reduced the amount of my monthly pension without citing any reason and has yet to deposit my pension for the last two months in my bank account. Will the AGPR look into this matter? I would request that the previous system of getting pension through the NBP be restored, and I be paid all the arrears.

N Abbas

Islamabad