THE government’s Pensioners Benefit Scheme is meant to facilitate only those senior citizens who have retired from the federal and provincial governments, semi-government autonomous bodies. These citizens can also invest up to Rs5 million in the Behbood savings scheme.

However, for pensioners from private organisations, only the Behbood savings scheme facility is available and they are not allowed to invest in the Pensioners Benefit Scheme. Thus private pensioners are limited to investing only Rs5 million in a high-profit savings scheme.

I am sure the government knows pensioners from the private sector face the same financial challenges after retirement. Hence the Pensioners Benefit Scheme facility should be extended to all pensioners.

Almaee Jafri

Lahore

Published in Dawn, January 15th, 2019