RAWALPINDI, July 25: Pakistan Post has empowered all the post offices to calculate the increase in the pensions of the ex- servicemen and make payment to them as has been announced by the government.

Every post office will now calculate the raise in pensions according to the formula announced by the government and make payment of the additional amount to the pensioners, said Chief Post Master Ghazanfar Mehmood Azhar while talking to Dawn.

Previously, the pensioners had to approach the General Post Office (head branch) to register themselves for the raise in pensions, he said. That was a tedious job, especially for the small pensioners, who had to come from far-off places to get the increase, he noted.

But now, Mr Azhar said, all the subordinate post offices have been empowered to calculate the increase and make payment accordingly. This will solve the long-running problem of the pensioners community, the post master said.

A reporter from Islamabad adds: Pakistan Postal Services Management Board (PPSMB) is committed to further improving the lot of the postal employees across the country. These views were expressed by Agha Masood Hasan, Chairman PPSMB, at the conclusion of fifth meeting of the PPSMB held the other day.

Mr Masood said welfare of the postal employees was the top priority, a housing project was under consideration, and the medical and health were being upgraded and improved in the postal dispensaries throughout the country.

He said a vaccination drive against Hepatitis-b would be launched in August for the postal employees and their dependent family members working in Islamabad and Rawalpindi. Mr Masood said a vaccination camp would be organized at Syed Ather Mahmood Memorial Medical Hospital at Rawalpindi from August 2-6.

Meanwhile, the Pakistan Post issued a special postage of Rs4 denomination on Saturday to celebrate the golden jubilee of Sui Southern Gas Company. The stamp depicts the Ziarat Juniper forest where some trees are over 4,000 years old and are a valuable national heritage. The SSGC has been making concerted efforts to protect and preserve this wealth.