Railway employees resent non-payment of BF

Islamabad

A large number of retired employees of Pakistan Railways are in a state of tension and anxiety as according to them they have not been paid Benevolent Fund for about last six months by the management of the department.

The retired employees including Azhar Hussein Shah, Mohammad Hayat, Saeed Ahmed Sheikh, Haji Mohammad Ashraf, Shahid Hussein Usmani, Mohammad Fazil, Mukhtar Shah, Mohammad Siddique, Raja Pervaiz, Ishaq Bangah along with others told this correspondent that the department has failed to pay them benevolent fund since last 6 months. When they approached, the concerned officials instead of resolving the issue adopt very rude behaviour and forced them to visit office several times.

According to these affected retired employees, the non-payment of benevolent fund to them is sheer violation of the orders of Lahore High Court and Federal Service Tribunal.

They have appealed to Prime Minister Mian Nawaz Sharif, the chief justice of Pakistan, Federal Minister for Railways Khawja Saad Rafiq, the chairman Railways and secretary benevolent fund to issue directions to the related officials for paying benevolent fund to the retired employees without any further delay.

However, Divisional Personal Officer Ms Viqar un Nisa while commenting on the issue denied the allegations levelled by the retired employees. She said that benevolent fund is paid to all retired employees without any fail and delay. However, she cleared that the payment of this fund is done on turn basis. In all there are 5,000 retired employees as such the fund is issued to them on turn over basis. Rules and procedure is followed during the payment of this fund. The turn of each and every employee comes after one year, she said.