September 19, 2007	Wednesday	Ramazan 06, 1428

ISLAMABAD, Sept 18: The government has decided to disburse pensions through banks, Accountant-General of Pakistan Saifullah Khan Sherwani informed Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry on Tuesday.

The decision to change the mode of pension disbursement has been taken in accordance with the directions of the Supreme Court to provide relief to the pensioners.

The apex court had taken suo motu notice of the problems being faced by pensioners on June 29 and had directed the State Bank of Pakistan governor to submit a report and suggestions on the matter.

The accountant general said the government had approved that all federal, provincial and defence paid pensioners should be allowed to open accounts in any scheduled bank, and the banks should be instructed to transfer the amount of the pension in their accounts on 30th of every month enabling them to withdraw the same as per their choice.

However, after every six months, every pensioner shall appear himself before the bank staff for verifying that he is alive and is capable to withdraw the pension.

In the last hearing of the case on August 9, SBP Joint Director Mohsin Rashid had submitted before the chief justice that exclusive customer facilitation centre based on concentration of pensioners were being established, banking hours were being extended to 4:30pm and pension payment was being automated, initially at urban centres.

The suo motu notice was taken on a programme telecast on the PTV World on June 25 in which the plight of pensioners was highlighted. It was shown that they have to stand in queues in front of the banks as early as 3am to mid-day in order to receive their pension.

But only a limited number of pensioners receive their pension due to the rush and lack of facilities, and most of them return unsuccessful and again stand in queues the next day.

Taking suo motu notice of the issue, Supreme Court judge Justice Javed Iqbal had directed to issue notice to the Accountant General Pakistan Revenue and also directed State Bank of Pakistan to submit a comprehensive policy on the mode of distribution of the pensions to facilitate the pensioners.

At present, the total strength of pensioners of the federal government and the provinces is around two million.

The pension is currently being disbursed through the post offices and the National Bank of Pakistan, where the paucity of staff makes them suffer.

The problems faced by senior citizens who visit banks and savings centres to collect their pensions or dividends are a sad commentary on how the elderly persons were being treated.

Often, pensioners have to stand for hours in queues to wait for their turn to collect payment. Banks are crowded and there are not enough chairs. Some banks do not even allow pensioners inside their buildings and make them stand outside.

Much more distressing is the rude manner in which bank officials treat pensioners.

The problem partly lies in the improper planning and availability of space. In all developed countries, and an increasing number of developing countries as well, special provisions are made to accommodate senior citizens, and care is also taken to appoint sympathetic staff to facilitate them.

Such arrangements are lacking in Pakistan. From banks to parking lots near business centres, shopping places and offices, no special arrangements are made for the elderly.

There is no organisation or authority that deals exclusively with the problems faced by the pensioners. Retired government employees often approach ombudsmen and different government departments, where they had served, to complete their service book, get dues, pension and other dues, which is an extremely difficult and painful process.