ISLAMABAD: The retired scientists of Pakistan Agricultural Research Council (PARC) have decided to protest in front of the Parliament House next month for early payment of retirement benefits to them.

Around 300 agricultural scientists with widows of retired agri-scientists have established a coordination group to raise their voices.

“Retirement benefits have not been given for around two and a half years and the most unfortunate part is that more than 12 of these former PARC employees have passed away,” Sardar Mustafa, coordinator for the group said, adding that widows, orphans along with old and sick employees are waiting for their funds to meet family obligations.

Established in 1981, the PARC is an autonomous body working under the administrative control of Ministry of National Food Security and Research. The PARC gets its budget for provision of salaries, pension and retirement benefits as well as operational expenditures in the form of a grant from the federal government.

Pensions and other retirement benefits are legitimate and entitled rights of employees who retire upon attaining their superannuation. However, since July 2018 due to less budget allocation, financial liabilities have accumulated in the form of obligatory payments related to pension and retirement benefits of more than 260 scientists and para-scientific staff.

The PARC management has requested the government for a supplementary grant of Rs806.5 million to meet liabilities, through the Ministry of National Food Security, but the request is still pending at the finance ministry.

Published in Dawn, February 26th, 2021