Pakistan is currently going through the worst financial and
economic crisis in its history and we have to show "Kishkol Gadai" in
front of international financial institutions, developed countries and
especially our friendly countries to run the state system. Due to
"wanted wealth", poor planning and lavish spending, we are currently
burdened with huge debt of Rs 64,000 billion and are now "scrambling"
to take another tranche of loans from the IMF. At their dictation, we are
grinding our people in the "inflation mill" and increasing the prices
of electricity, gas, petrol day by day, increasing the current tax rates and
imposing new taxes on the people.
The sad thing is that the caretaker governments are giving the
people a tsunami of inflation, unemployment and poverty, which is affecting
every common citizen, especially the 2.5 million senior citizens, and none of
them are in a happy state. You European countries Look at the state
provides all kinds of facilities to the senior citizens, but here our
"senior citizens" are living a very poor life. It is a bitter truth
that about 55 to 60% of the politicians who reach the "houses of
power" are senior citizens, but this is not the case. Despite this, these
self-interested politicians do not even do a "slow job" for the
welfare of the elderly.
In the previous PDM government's budget for the financial year
2023-24, the words "welfare of senior citizens" are not found. Senior
citizens were not given any kind of discount in medical treatment, laboratory
tests and purchase of medicines, but the prices of life-saving medicines
increased by 200 to 250%, transport fares for senior citizens, No relief
of any kind including insurance, borrowing, issuance of driving license, tax
exemptions and deductions, withholding tax on bank transactions has been given.
Wheelchairs and special route facilities are not available to
senior citizens in any railway station, bus stand, bus stop even in hotels, for
example these senior citizens are not provided with access to tax offices,
banks, electricity and gas, telephone and civic facilities. No facilities are
provided in the offices, but in the banks, a 6x3 inch slip of paper on the
glass will definitely be seen "Counter for Senior Citizens", but the
senior citizens will still be seen standing in long queues. It is sad and
bitter. There is a story that we are destroying the rights of our senior
citizens at every level. Just look at the recent abuse of elderly pensioners.
Since the establishment of Pakistan, till June 30, 2023, it has been the rule
that the salaries of the employees in service will be paid at the same rate.
The increase in pension was also increasing at the same rate By
increasing 50% and not refunding the amount of retired employees' group
insurance and not increasing their medical allowance by 100%, the right of the
old age pensioners has been clearly violated, which no court has taken notice
of. The previous two governments had planned to end the pension altogether
on the instructions of the IMF and had also declared the pension as a burden on
the national treasury and the country's economy.
The caretaker governments, whose mandate is to conduct free,
impartial and transparent elections, even by them, attack the pensions of
elderly pensioners. These seniors, who strengthened the country's
administrative structure by working day and night in the most difficult
conditions, are now a burden to the rulers and they are looking to abolish the
pension, the only support for their old age. It is regrettable that the
Punjab government has taken all the "bazi" in "Pension
Prowar" and orders are issued to change the rules and cut the pension.
At present, protests and sit-ins are taking place in every
district of Punjab for changing the Live-in Cash Mint and Pension laws, but the
caretaker government is not missing out. The sad thing is that all NGOs
and political parties, including print, electronic and social media, have been
"silent" for the legitimate right of senior pensioners, no one has
raised their voice in favor of serving employees and pensioners. The
pensions of lakhs of elderly pensioners of our national banks are not only
frozen continuously for the past several years, but they are given nominal
pensions which are around Rs.4,500 to Rs.8,500 in various banks. Is it possible
to pull the car of life with such a small pension? On the other hand, the
elderly pensioners of many institutions including Pakistan National Railways,
PIA, PTCL, Pakistan Steel Mills are not only retired but they Annual increase
in pension and its timely acquisition
Similar is the situation of the registered pensioners of EOBI
who retired from industrial establishments who are taking only 10,000 monthly
old-age pension in this period of inflation. It is important to note that the
employees of this institution are getting benefits from the capital collected
from the contribution of industrial workers, but a great favor is being done by
giving only ten thousand rupees per month to more than 5 and a half lakh
elderly pensioners and widows. The minimum wage of an old age pension worker in
a profitable organization EOBI should be Rs 35000 per month. I don't know when
the government will pay attention to this important issue? Are we giving them
living facilities on priority basis? Are we giving them They are giving free treatment,
laboratory tests and other facilities including medicines? Are we just giving
them the "fake status" of senior citizen?Huzur may be angry.
It is for everyone, including the government, to think that what will we
answer to Allah Almighty regarding the rights of the elderly on the Day of
Resurrection? Are we truly serving the elderly according to Islamic
teachings?
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