SENIOR citizens are given high respect throughout the world whereas the situation in Pakistan is the opposite. This is clear from the PIA management’s treatment of its retirees.

These senior citizens have been struggling hard for the last 15 years to get enhanced the meagre amount of their pensions, but in vain.

During the last 15 years, only once a meagre increase in the pension was made in 2013, despite the PIA circular No 21/2003 to raise pensions after the increase in salaries of serving employees. Although the salaries of serving employees were raised twice, no increase was made in PIA pensions despite the circular.

The PIA management had committed to enhancing the “commuted amount” of PIA retirees after completion of 10 years of their retirement, but regrettably this was never implemented.

Three former PIA chiefs had repeatedly promised to enhance PIA pensions but did nothing. On behalf of PIA retirees, I appeal to the prime minister and the Supreme Court chief justice to intervene and ensure that adequate relief is provided to the retirees.

Mohammad Khan Sial
Adviser on PR / PIA Retired
Employees Association
Karachi

Published in Dawn, October 18th, 2018