Army pensioners

Pensioners who retired some 35-40 years ago are frail, physically weak and living on pittance. Since their pay was very little at the time of retirement the pension granted to them was very low. The yearly increase has not kept pace with the galloping inflation so much so that the officers of that time are receiving pensions less than the JCOs of today.
To mitigate their plight it is proposed that the next increase in pension should take into account the longevity of the pension. Thus pensioners who retired before July 1, 1975 may be granted an 80 percent increase; those before 1980, 50 percent; between 1980 and 1990, 30 percent and those who retired after 1990 may get 20 percent increase. This will not pose any major problem because the number of such pensioners is very small. The army chief is requested to look into this problem.
Major (r) Sabir Hussain Shah
Rawalpindi