ISLAMABAD: Despite orders from the government that salaries and pensions should be paid before Eidul Azha, 3,000 pensioners from the Ministry of Science and Technology’s 14 ancillary departments will mark Eid without their pensions.

“We tried out best and contacted the Finance Division a number of times, but unfortunately the funds for the pensioners could not be released. I fear that the pensioners will not even get their pensions after Eid,” ministry representative Rana Munawar told Dawn.

The government has decided to release all salaries and pensions before Eid. According to a notification issued by the Finance Division that is available with Dawn, since Eidul Azha falls within the last 10 days of the month, government servants and pensioners may be paid in advance.

Mr Munawar said the division decided to allocate 25pc of the funds in the first quarter, 30pc in the second quarter, 25pc in the third quarter and 20pc in the fourth.

“Although salaries are being paid, we could not get the grant for pensioners, because of which around 3,000 pensioners will not be able to get their pensions before and even after Eid,” he said.

Published in Dawn, July 29th, 2020