IN today’s democratic and civilized world, all states take special care of their elderly and aging citizens. They are given special treatment and those who served nation in different fields through their lives are held in high esteem. In 2002, the World Health Organisation introduced a comprehensive framework regarding the older people i.e. Active ageing: a policy framework. The concept of the active ageing is based on acknowledging the human rights of elderly people and the UN principles of dignity, economic and social participation etc.
In China, Elderly Rights Law was passed in 2015 to ensure that elderly people are taken care of. In neighbouring India, the constitution of the country ensures the protection of the rights of senior citizens. The Indian government announced National Policy for Older Persons in 1999, which emphasizes on food and shelter security, healthcare, protection against abuse and exploitation and provision of the services necessary to improve the quality of life. Under the constitution of Bangladesh, it is state’s responsibility to ensure food security, residential facilities, social security, financial assistance and medical facilities to the widows, orphans and elderly people. Such laws and social norms are in vogue everywhere in the world.
We, the PBC pensioners, aged between 60 and 80 plus are at a loss to understand whether anyone, any institution or any authority in Pakistan has any consideration or sympathy for us. We served the state broadcaster i.e. Radio Pakistan, through our lives and retired on superannuation. The services of Radio Pakistan employees are governed by regulations approved by the government, its board of directors and notified in Gazette of Pakistan on July 17, 1985.
It is lamentable that those who retired over the past four years or so have been deprived of their lawful financial benefits/rights. The sufferings and hardships of over three hundred fifty families have increased manifold after retirement of their bread-earners because they have been denied commuted amount which amounts in millions in nine out of ten cases. The government announced 13.97 percent profit on the amount of GP fund of its serving employees for the year 2023-24, but pensioners will not get profit of a single penny for their withheld commuted amount. If a pensioner was to get four million, for instance, he could invest it in National Savings schemes, to get at least fifty-thousands a month, which helped him educate his children, get medicines, better diet etc. I myself have so far suffered a loss of about 2.5 million rupees if calculated in this way. Is this not ruthless discrimination?
Through its judgment dated 21 February 2013, the Supreme Court directed Government Departments, Agencies and Officers not to cause unnecessary hurdles or delay in finalizing the payment of pension/retirement benefits in future. In its judgment, the apex court stated that any violation of these directions would amount to criminal negligence and dereliction of duty, and if any delay in the finalization of pension benefits cases of government servants, widows or orphan children was brought to the notice of the court, the head of the concerned department would also be held liable for the contempt of the court and would be dealt with strictly in accordance with law. Will any authority take notice of this to provide justice to PBC pensioners?
To further compound the agony of PBC pensioners, they are not being given medical allowance, though PBC management is bound to adopt government’s medical policy in toto after adopting of government scales in 2022. The pensioners, most of whom need medicines more than bread, have to incur on medicines from their meagre pension. Can this hybrid system in PBC be justified?
—The writer is former Director News, Radio Pakistan.
