Pension dispute

In 2018 the KP government announced the regularization of many government employees. I really worry when I hear about new jobs in government organizations or regularization of contract employees because this means that more people will be eligible for pensions. Our country’s pensions are already ballooning into a major disaster. With bad policies and unnecessary hiring and incentives, the cost to government and taxpayers has steadily been rising over the years.

Take the example of Pakistan Railways where excessive hiring and extremely high pensions have made Pakistan Railways into a loss making organization. The government has to stop these practices. Firstly the pensions of government employees should be monetized so each person can get their own insurance and pension scheme in private firms, shifting the risk from the government to the private sector. Private firms should be asked to give discounts to government employees. No public-sector organization should be allowed to increase pension rates unless the organization is profitable. I believe if the current Government does not take these actions soon than ordinary citizens will have to pick up the pensions bill in the form of even higher taxes.

Engr Shahryar Khan Baseer

Peshawar

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Pension is an entitlement and not a benefit. Persons placed in authority positions must explain as to why they try to eliminate the pensions of regular, hard-working employees. May I remind the concerned authorities of the noble words of Imam Ali (AS),"Justice is the essence of the people's welfare as well as the adherence to the divine path.”

Hashim Abro

Islamabad