Zubair Qureshi
After intervention of the Federal Ombudsman, an employee of Associated Press of Pakistan received 10 percent increase in pension after waiting for almost seven years.
As per details, a retired employee of APP Muhammad Nawaz filed a complaint against the news agency before the Federal Ombudsman for failure to make 10pc increase in his pension.
In his application, the aggrieved applicant stated that APP pensioners were not getting raise in their pension despite the decision of the APP Board of Directors (BoD).
He added that the APP BoD in its meeting in September, 2019 had decided to increase 10pc pension for APP pensioner’s w.e.f.1.7.2015 subject to the creation of APP Pension Fund.
He further stated that despite lapse of considerable time neither the APP Pension Fund was created nor the increase in pension was allowed to pensioners. He requested the FO to direct the Agency to implement the APP BoD decision in the best interest of justice.
Later, during the proceedings the representatives of APP and Ministry of Finance appeared and presented their points of view.
The Ombudsman noted that the matter had been pending for long and directed for speedy finalization of the proposed mechanism within 45 days. Finally the APP implemented the decision of the Ombudsman and informed that after 10pc increase in pension, the complainant would receive Rs.56,219 per month as compared to Rs.43,217/-. The complainant has thanked the Federal Ombudsman that due to his intervention he received an increase in his pension after seven years.
