LAHORE: The Punjab government has decided to cross-check the pensioners data with Nadra in order to create transparency and end any discrepancy in the distribution of pensions.

In the first phase of the Punjab pension reforms, the biometric verification of the pensioners will be made mandatory to counter the irregularities in the pension disbursement mechanism, says a handout.

The decision was taken at a review meeting of the Punjab pension reforms under PRIDE project by Punjab Finance Minster Mohsin Leghari. Secretary Finance Punjab, Special Secretary Finance, Punjab Pension Fund General Manager Syed Shahnawaz Nadir Shah and other officers attended the meeting.

The minister observed that the pension reforms were being introduced to control rising expenditure of claimants. He said the disbursement of the pensions through online payment methods would make it easier for the pensioners to collect their pensions besides ensuring transparency in the pension disbursement system.

“The upcoming reforms will also offer alternative options as per the need of the pensioners for payment of pension dues. In the future, reforms will also be introduced in the pension fund under the Punjab Finance Department,” the minster added.

Leghari made it clear that the most of the reforms in the pension system would be applicable to the employees recruited under the new pension system. He welcomed the increase in the privileges of engineers by the Punjab government and emphasised the need for a better package for the staff working in the field than those who are sitting in the offices.

Increased privileges of field officers would also play an important role in keeping them away from corruption, he believed. He said the old formula of salaries and pensions did not support the upgrade and it’s necessary to ensure the restructuring of the formula. Under the old formula, payments were being made to government employees through different sources, which could be combined to introduce better packages.

Reduction of pension expenditure could be ensured through various offers to the employees at the time of retirement.

He said control on current expenditure would lead to increase in the availability of resources for development expenditure in the province.

Published in Dawn, October 5th, 2022