WANA, May 2: More than 1,500 pensioners in the South Waziristan Agency have been facing a lot of difficulties as they have not received any financial assistance from the Benevolent Fund during the last three years.

Although the political administration of South Waziristan Agency has already written to the NWFP Benevolent Fund authorities regarding the release of the funds accumulated over the three years, no action has so far been taken.

The total amount of the fund, which had not been paid for unknown reasons, stood at more than Rs9.9m, informed sources said. The pensioners have appealed to both the federal and provincial governments to direct the authorities concerned for the early release of the fund amount.