Pensioners made to prove they are alive

Post offices demand of elderly pensioners to produce UC certificate to receive pension

RAWALPINDI: Known for coming up with ideas to make life more miserable for the vulnerable able, the government has asked pensioners to submit proof of life certificate for receiving payments from the post office.

“I went to receive my pension from the post office as usual with my CNIC and pension book, but the officials there told me to bring a proof that I am ‘me’ and still alive,” said Haami Ramzan a retired government official.

Mohamamd Iqbal another pensioner told Daily Express that he himself was present in person with his CNIC and pension book, but the post office people want verification from local union council chairman that mister so and so is alive and living at the same address. “it is so cruel to make elderly people go from place to place begging people to give them proof of life,” Iqbal said.



Muhammad Naeem was in particular hurt about the rude behaviour of the post office staff. “We spend our productive years as public servants with hope to spend old age in peace, but every now and then the authorities put hurdles in payment of pensions, this is so cruel, so criminal,” the frail old man said.



Post offices have pasted notices that warning that pension of the pensioners unable to submit certificates of their residence and life will be halted.



Pensioners heading to post offices on Friday without these certificates were not allowed to draw their pensions. Some elderly people told Daily Express that union council officials were asking Rs500 to Rs1,000 to issue a living resident certificate on UC letterhead.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 1^st, 2018.