Peanut for Pensioners.
7% Increase in Budget is not acceptable.
Syed Qaim Abbas.
(Malik Aslam Awan, Rep. Aalmi Akhbar, Islamabad- Pakistan)
Syed Qaim Abbas, President All Pakistan Pensioners Welfare Association has strongly condemned the Federal Govt’s decision to grant the ad hoc relief in pension by 7% in the budget 2026-27, calling it as peanut for pensioners is insufficient relief given on skyrocketing inflation.
Addressing members of APPWA he expressed deep dis-apointment over the government’s neglecting of retired employees who are struggling to make ends meet. A mere 7% increase in pensions is a joke when inflation rate is on a very side. How can elderly pensioners survive with such a negligible raise while prices of essential commodities, medicines, and utility services are soaring uncontrollable”
The APPWA has demanded an immediate100% increase in pensions for all retirees. The government must prioritize the welfare of pensioners who have served the nation for decades while they were in service. Syed Qaim Abbas asserted that many retired officials are forced to cut down on basic necessities due to stagnant incomes and rising costs of the essential commedties.
Malik Aslam Awan, Joint Secretary of APPWA also urged the authorities to streamline pension disbursements, eliminate delays, and provide 100% medical allowance as it is frozen at level drawn on Ist July, 2015 whereas the prices of medicine have been increased multiple times. APPWA has demanded that government must take urgent measures to provide relief to the Pensioners. Now the ball is in the government’s court to redress the grievances of pensioners before the situation escalates further.
Various pensioners association’s leaders have condemned the government decision for grant of petty increase in the pension. President PBC retired employee’s association Akram Ali Zai has said despite soaring inflation, unprecedented increase in medicine prices, the raising utility bills and rising living expense, the govt. has announced only 7% increase in the pension which is equal to a “drop in the Ocean” He said the increase is not a meaningful relief but rather an insult to the hardships of the pensioners faced on daily basis commodity
The retired employees of Pakistan Institute of Medical Science (PIMS) have termed the 7% increase in pension a “cruel joke” with the pensioners. In a joint statement issued by the patron-in-chief of the PIMS retired employees welfare association Dr. Mansoor Ahmed and others said that 7 % increase in pension is nothing but an act of “Economic injustice” against the pensioners.
MukhtiyarAli Khan, Chairman, Pensioners Welfare Association of Pakistan has said that the pensioners are suffering badly since 2022 due to discrimination with serving and pensioners. He stressed that at least 50% increase in pension should be aproved. The medical allowance is freezed since Ist July, 2015, it should have been enhanced according to the hike in the prices of medicines.
Sheikh Muhammed Aleem, Chief Pattern, Pakistan Pay & Pension has criticized the decision of grant of 7% increase in the pension. He demanded that problem of the pensioners may be solved immediately and 100% increase in pension is demanded. The freezed medical allowance may be enhanced immediately.
