Spare the old

Due to IMF pressure, a weak economy, and various other financial constraints, the government is planning to introduce pension reforms. Some are predicting that if the present pension scheme is continued, it may well collapse the country’s economy and the pensioners would be left penniless. Whenever the new pension scheme is introduced, it should not affect the present or the old pensioners.

These pensioners are too old to have an alternate source of income. Also, the widows, divorcees, and single daughters getting a family pension, risk being left totally helpless if this facility is withdrawn. In fact, this would be a cruel step, if taken by the government. The new scheme, if introduced, should begin with present employees and new pensioners.

Sqn Ldr (r) Tarique M Malak

Rawalpindi.