THE ongoing plight of pensioners at the University of Peshawar represents a deeply troubling humanitarian crisis — one that demands immediate attention from both government authorities and the university administration. For reasons that remain disturbingly unclear, retired employees have reportedly been denied their pensions, causing severe financial hardship and emotional distress among one of society’s most vulnerable groups.
Pension is not a privilege. It is a fundamental right, earned through decades of honest and dedicated service. Employees of public institutions spend the prime years of their lives working under strict rules and regulations, often forgoing alternative sources of income, sustained by a single assurance: that upon retirement, they will be afforded financial security. To deny or delay this right is not merely an administrative failing — it is a serious breach of institutional trust and a violation of the social contract between an employer and those who have served it faithfully.
The human face of this crisis is impossible to ignore. Most of the affected pensioners are over the age of 60. Many are frail, in declining health and increasingly dependent on medical care. At this stage of life, both physical resilience and emotional fortitude are diminished. The uncertainty caused by the non-payment of pensions has exposed them to chronic anxiety, depression and a deepening sense of abandonment. For a great many, their pension is their sole source of income. During their years of service, these men and women planned their futures with care and dignity. They educated their children, fulfilled family obligations and managed their households on the quiet confidence that a stable pension awaited them in retirement. The sudden disruption of that financial lifeline has shattered those expectations entirely, leaving many in a state of helplessness and despair that no retired public servant should ever be made to endure.
The consequences of prolonged financial deprivation at an advanced age can be grave and, in some cases, irreversible. Sustained stress and economic insecurity are well-documented contributors to serious illness among the elderly. One need not strain the imagination to envision an aged pensioner — already weakened by years and bereft of income — suffering a medical crisis brought on by prolonged anxiety and neglect. In such circumstances, a sobering question must be asked: who bears moral and institutional responsibility for such an outcome?
This situation demands urgent, transparent and decisive action. The relevant authorities must provide a clear and honest account of the reasons behind the delays and take immediate steps to restore pension payments without further lapse. Beyond immediate relief, this episode must prompt a thorough review of the systems and oversight mechanisms governing pension disbursement so that no future cohort of retirees is subjected to the same ordeal. Institutional accountability is not optional — it is the cornerstone of public trust.
As a practical and equitable immediate relief measure, it is proposed that whatever financial resources the university currently holds be distributed in a balanced and transparent manner — allocating fifty percent to serving employees and the remaining fifty percent to retired pensioners. This is not a perfect solution, but it is a humane and rational one. It ensures that both groups receive partial yet essential financial support during this period of acute crisis, without either being left entirely without recourse. Fairness demands that those who devoted their careers to building this institution are not treated as an afterthought when resources are scarce.
A society is ultimately judged by how it treats those who built it. The pensioners of the University of Peshawar gave years of their lives to an institution of learning and public service. They deserve dignity, financial security and the respect owed to all who have served with dedication and honour. Addressing their plight is not simply an administrative obligation — it is a moral imperative and one that must be fulfilled without further delay.
—The writer is contributing columnist.
