ALTHOUGH the government claims to provide relief to old pensioners, reality tells another story. A few months ago it was circulated by the government that now pensioners could get their monthly pension directly from their personal bank accounts.

Thus old citizens could be saved from an agonising and painful wait in long queues for getting their pensions.

However, when these pensioners go to the relevant department for getting approval for the transfer of pension in their personal bank accounts, another torment starts. The lengthy and futile exercise could not bring the result and, consequently, they had no option other than to wait in queues for their pension.

The state has failed to implement its decision of providing relief to old citizens. Since this is election year, therefore the ruling party should use these few months to provide relief to old pensioners by making the process easy for them.

DANISH SIDDIQUI Pakistan Institute of Labour Education and Research Karachi