THIS refers to the editorial ‘Pensioners’ verification’ (Feb 3) which has appreciated the recent circular of the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) that did away with the old system of rendering ‘life certificate’ twice a year in March and September to the effect that the pensioner is alive.

The only difficulty in the old system was to get the certificate signed by a gazetted officer. Under the new system, the procedure is rather complicated. Instead of providing relief to old pensioners and making the procedure simple, it will add to their difficulties. The introduction of biometric verification is a good step to stop fraud, but in case, due to old age, the bank fails to verify fingerprints, the pensioner is directed to go to Nadra office which has more sophisticated biometric apparatus.

Each pensioner is supposed to have a separate account in any scheduled bank and must physically visit the bank for biometric verification. If the system fails to recognise the fingerprints, the bank manager should issue a certificate that the pensioner has visited the branch in person and is maintaining an account. There should be no need to send him to Nadra.

The bank should give a copy of the certificate to the officer for onward submission to CMA (OP) for armed forces officers. In case a pensioner is unable to come to the bank, the bank officer should visit his home and charge taxi fare. Alternatively, he can make a video call and certify that the pensioner is alive.

The SBP governor should look into this suggestion and make it further pensioner-friendly and hassle-free for old pensioners.

Lt-Col (retd) Mukhtar Ahmed Butt
Karachi

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WITH reference your editorial ‘Pensioners’ verification’ (Feb 3), it is unfortunate that without realising the fact that simply because the government failed to eradicate the fraud of its own serving ‘ghost’ employees, it is trying to create problems for the genuine pensioners. Many pensioners have been facing problems during biometric verification as their fingerprints cannot be scanned owing to old age. Besides, making their appearance mandatory for verification is also illogical.

Israr Ahmed
Karachi

Published in Dawn, February 15th, 2021