Retired worker jumps off Railway HQ building

Elderly man fractures both legs, sustains injuries in failed suicide attempt

LAHORE:

A grade-4 retired employee of Pakistan Railways attempted suicide by jumping off the Railways headquarters’ building over non-payment of his general provident (GP), fracturing his both legs as a result.

According to sources, the elderly man, identified as Robin, who had been employed at the railways for many years, had been going months without getting paid his GP amid skyrocketing inflation.

Robin had been frequently visiting the headquarters’ to receive his pension and seek explanations for the delay. However, dejected by the unsatisfactory response from the officials and constantly frozen pension with no relief in sight, he decided to end his life by jumping off the upper floor of the building.

Although he survived the attempt, sources said the man has sustained serious injuries while fracturing both of his legs and has been shifted to Services Hospital in serious condition.

The tragic incident comes as the state entity continues to face a severe financial crunch with many of its retired employees bearing the brunt of it in the form of frozen pensions, striking the low-income group particularly hard.

Frozen pensions

According to sources, around 150,000 Railways pensioners from across the country have not been able to receive their payments yet and several serving employees still have not been given their general provident funds for months.

Retired officers and employees of Railways belonging to eight divisions across the country -- from Grade 1 to 21 -- are facing severe difficulties due to non-receipt of pension money.

These divisions include Multan, Karachi, Quetta, Peshawar, Sukkur and Rawalpindi.

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Widows and other pensioners have grown tired of visiting the office every day and the administration is not doing anything for them except give them assurances.

The pensioners have become a shuttlecock between the Railways Accounts Department and banks.

When they visit the banks, they are told that their pensions have not been transferred by the Railways. However, when they visit the Railways Accounts Department, they are given a new excuse.

On the other hand, many serving workers have not received their GP funds for months despite the fact that the tax for this purpose was being deducted from their salaries.