Railways to distribute Rs5b among pensioners

After a number of retired Pakistan Railways (PR) employees attempted suicides in the recent days, the department has decided to distribute Rs5 billion, received by the Ministry of Railways, among its staff whose dues are left pending.

Earlier this week, a grade-4 retired employee of the PR attempted suicide, by jumping off the Railways headquarters’ building over non-payment of his general provident, fracturing his both legs as a result.

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.

The tragic incident came as the state entity continued 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.

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Now, the PR has decided to daily payments of Rs20 million to the 125,000 pensioners and their widows across the country from the next week. The amount will be paid in a phased manner under the heads of pensions and gratuity.

The lists of pensioners in Karachi, Lahore, Rawalpindi and Multan Division including the retired Railways Police employees have been completed.

The PR has provided helpline numbers in order to make the pension payment system transparent and to address any complaints.

PR CEO Farrukh Taimur and CFO Ziaullah Niazi have decided to distribute the amount of Rs5 billion among the pensioners and their widows whose names have been included in the lists by December this year.

The initiative would help in making payments to the pensioners in Lahore, Karachi, Rawalpindi and workshops division headquarters and retired railways police employees who could not receive pensions and gratuity last year.