THE federal government has facilitated pensioners to receive pension through banks. Now, a new system of automatic transfer of pension to the bank accounts is being introduced. This system is commendable, but the procedure specified for the pensioners, including the disabled, is complex and cumbersome, such as attestation of photos, CNIC, life certificate and indemnity bond by gazetted officers.

How millions of pensioners of all status everywhere will find gazetted officers willing to verify and sign all these documents is beyond my imagination. It is time we trusted each other and minimised and simplified procedures to make life easier for everyone.

I appeal to the government to accept existing credentials of the pensioners maintained by the departments concerned.

M. Akram Niazi
Rawalpindi

Published in Dawn, February 9th, 2016