LAHORE: The Punjab Government Pensioners Association (PGPA) has rejected the Punjab government’s decision to grant only a 3.5 per cent increase in pensions, describing it as unfair, inadequate and discriminatory towards millions of pensioners, widows and dependent family members across the province.

In a statement issued here on Friday, PGPA patron-in-chief Yawar Mehdi and General Secretary Mian Khalid Habib appealed to the President of Pakistan, Prime Minister, Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir and Punjab chief minister for a comprehensive review of the recent restrictive amendments to pension regulations, with the adoption of fair and equitable rules in line with federal practices.

The association demanded immediate establishment of a high-level committee led by Punjab Assembly Speaker Malik Muhammad Ahmad Khan with Punjab Finance Minister Mujtaba Shujaur Rehman and provincial minister Bilal Yasin, representatives of pensioners, finance department and relevant government authorities, to develop fair, practical and sustainable solutions to pension-related issues.

The association leadership stated that Punjab pensioners were struggling to survive, while the government was collecting up to 18 percent in sales taxes. They argued that the pensioners living within the same country should not be subjected to unequal treatment. While pensioners of the federal government and several other provinces had received substantially higher relief, pensioners in Punjab were facing the lowest increase for the second consecutive year, they lamented.

Mr Mehdi said many employees retiring in BPS-17 receive pensions of approximately Rs50,000 per month. After serving the State faithfully for 30 to 32 years, they were often required to vacate official accommodation and move into rented housing. Meeting the costs of rent, medicines, healthcare, utility bills and other basic household expenses on a modest pension had become increasingly difficult. For families supporting elderly, disabled or chronically ill dependents, the financial burden was even more severe, he said.

PGPA Chairman Riaz Chaudhry said pension was neither charity nor a government favour; it was a legally earned and morally justified entitlement. Punjab’s pensioners face the same inflationary pressures as pensioners elsewhere in Pakistan and therefore deserve equal and equitable treatment.

Mr Habib demanded immediate reconsideration of the decision to grant only a 3.5 percent increase in pensions; provision of pension relief to the Punjab pensioners on par with that granted by the federal government and other provinces.

He demanded introduction of adequate healthcare and medical treatment facilities for pensioners and their families, comparable to those available to retired members of the armed forces.

Published in Dawn, June 20th, 2026