I am alive

I would like to point out a painfully ridiculous verification process which is prevalent in the 21st century Pakistan. I am a retired Air Force person. Recently, I was informed to verify my existence by furnishing a proof of life certificate twice in a year to claim my monthly pension in compliance with the SBP’s latest instructions to curb the fake disbursements of pension. For this purpose, I had to get my living certificate signed by a gazetted officer, even though I have my CNIC along with my PAF ID card bearing my picture. The bank staff can easily compare these two cards and verify the certificate themselves, but to my utter surprise I was told to get it signed by a gazetted officer.

Similarly, I had a somewhat funny experience when I was told by the local Nadra staff to get my grandson’s birth certificate signed by a gazetted officer for his entry into the family’s B form, despite them having the child’s official birth certificate issued by the hospital and his parent CNICs. I fail to understand the role of gazetted officers in this entire affair. How can a gazetted officer take such responsibility? Has he got some extra sensory powers to verify such documents? Such procedures are remnants of the British Raj which created bureaucratic hurdles for people. The entire procedure can be simplified by introducing a biometric verification system. The SBP authorities should take steps to simplify the procedure and introduce less tedious methods for such verifications.

Wing commander (r) Khalid Ismail

Islamabad