PENSIONERS – THEIR AGE,
HEALTH AT 60 ABOVE AND:
05 June 2004
Earlier I sent addressed this letter on 3 June 2004 to newspapers DAWN, The News, The Nation, The Statesman, but non had space perhaps its contents are foolish. But since I am a myself foolish struggling on such foolish matters matters for the last 30 years putting myself and my family into lot of problems, sometime harassment and as old bad habit do not die one attempt again through I am directly not aggrieved on the issue for sake of elderly.
As is nearing the budget a lot of letters in letters to editor pages of all newspapers are appearing from senior citizen pensioners about continuous reducing interest rates, disparity in old and new pensioners, requirement of pension book, problems in getting pensions etc. Some of the writers have pleaded that those who do not have pension books eg autonomous bodies employees may also be allowed to open accounts. A few have suggested that joint wife/husband account be allowed to avoid litigation etc.
More due to some social environment and traditions than illiteracy many people preferred opening bank accounts secretly from their family members giving third party addresses. On sudden deaths of such people the families remained unaware and suffered. In 1990 I took up the issue that no single signature bank account be allowed and I drafted a text and proposed a Proforma to this effect. The then Federal Ombudsman terming my point as a humanitarian issue raised directed the demised Pakistan Banking Council to submit it views accordingly. PBC and all Presidents of nationalized Banks resisted this proposal for reasons known we all understand. However against my strong convincing arguments the Federal Ombudsman accepted my plea and my drafted text/proforma in exactly with same wording and design was introduced with all future new account openings. National dailies like Daily Jang Karachi wrote editorials praising this decision. This decision later, as far as I remember, was also enforced on Pakistan Post Office, National Savings, NDFC etc. Re the dormant accounts lying unclaimed I filed a Human Rights Petition with Honourable Supreme Court of Pakistan. Through a very tiny news item sometime mid 1990 I learnt that SC had made some decision on it but I am not aware what exactly it was as despite my all out efforts till today I am unable to get a copy of the decision till today. State Bank early 1990s advised me that necessary steps will be taken for making dormant accounts public. Promise is a promise to remain a promise.
Government has allowed a Pensioner’s Account with National Savings for retired personnel. Though there is no substantial difference of profit (hardly 1.25% in practice) nevertheless in this ever increasing cost of living even one rupee is valuable for common man particularly retirees who spent their live wholly on Rizq-e-Hilal. My father is about 82-84, had twice heart attack, very hardly can now walk to reach bank. My mother is 70 years, confined to chair and her hands are shaky and even cannot catch the pen what to say make her signature as per specimen 30 years back appended when opening an account. My father had a pension dues saving of 03 lacs. He did not invest it into this Pensioners Account. His reply to me was “I do not want my children on my death suffering in courts for legal procedures spending one lac to get back this 03 lacs”. When a decision in 1990 was made that there would be no single account then why this pensioners account or Behbood Certificates investment of senior citizens should not be joint with some young family member like spouse, son, daughter? It is well known that life after 60s is on bonus. One becomes so old not able to attend banks, national savings, not properly able to sign, anything can happen any time then why these senior citizens should not be given a really needed sympathy by allowing them joint account. To avoid misuse some other protective parameters can be adopted. I addressed the Federal Ombudsman in September 2003 on the subject requesting that National Savings be directed to allow joint Either or Survivor Pensioners Accounts which request in fact is in continuation of his 1990 decision and I am still awaiting any response. It is a very genuine issue which only needs real honest to the core kind sympathetic heart as it does not involve even a single Rupee financial burden on national exchequer but only ALLAH fearing honest respect care for the elders. I addressed this issue to two so called senior citizens forums in Rawalpindi/Islamabad but as usual they also did not take any interest and it did not surprise me as I know these so called human rights associations, NGOs etc all have in fact other goals then real service.
Each successive government claimed welfare of Overseas Pakistanis (OPs) but practically did nothing except raising slogans. Different schemes at different times are announced which are mostly to encourage more “duty free imports” benefit of which goes to a “few” or to commercial khapias. The best remarks about this tendency was from Chairman of NA Accounts Committee about two years back, as appeared in the press, that Overseas Pakistanis Foundation and its Ministry has no interest with OPs whereas Indian government was doing a lot for its non residents. Reading two months old audit report about alleged irregularities and huge fraud in Overseas Pakistanis Foundation gives shame and that is not the first such report. In the past similar reports appeared but as usual no investigation was done nor would be done this time. A gold and silver card scheme was introduced with much fanfare but practically an average OP has the practical benefit only of a free passport in 5 years ie about Rs. 650/- a year incentive. Rest of the benefits of the scheme are only good worth in files.
Government has introduced a Pensioner’s account in which profit is 2% higher than normal. This in practical term is approximately 1.5%. This account can be opened only by those who are retired government servants and possess pension books. There is another account Behbood Certificates in which profit is 10% which earlier was for only for retired government servants but last year any citizen above 60 was allowed to have his investment in it.
Overseas Pakistanis are coming back particularly from Middle East due to Arabization and economic conditions there or on retirement. Resident Permits of expatriate workforce in the Middle East in majority are not renewed on beyond 50 years age.. After arrival in Pakistan in this age of 50 above a returnee Overseas Pakistani has no chance to abroad again. Getting him an employment in Pakistan is out of question. Secondly having remained for long away from Pakistan he is practically disconnected from the market. In practical term such an Overseas Pakistani is a retiree. The government which claims so much affection and care for Overseas Pakistanis if really means it in letter and spirit should treat such returnee OPs above 50/55 years as retired and allow them to have their retirement dues invested in Behbood Certificates by condoning 10 or 05 years shortfall margin on verification of his passport or through Pakistan Embassy that returnee is coming to Pakistan on transfer of residence.
It is said it is not the rule or law which provides the society justice rather it is man sitting on the chair who delivers it. In case person sitting on the chair is ALLAH fearing public spirited he would deal the issue raised from a universal perception that all rules, laws and procedures are made for the welfare of public and not for controlling, ruling or depriving the public. If unfortunately man sitting on the chair is otherwise he would interpret it to deprive the general public because he is not affected by it. Take the example that the then Federal Ombudsman about 15 years back gave his decision to do away the disparity between old and new pensioners. Bureaucrats did not like it and filed an appeal against ombudsman orders. Why? Because they are not affected from such disparities? One such bureaucrat who was against removing existing disparity and did not like the ombudsman decision, according to a week old article I read, today is getting Rs. 1.20 lacs per month only rent of his Islamabad house from a German lady. How much other total wealth he had gathered is not question here. Such wealthy sitting on the chair how can they think of from public welfare point of point. Only such persons, if unfortunately they are on the seat dealing, would resist this proposal otherwise if they are public spirited they would give sympathetic consideration for Overseas Pakistanis knowing well these returnees today have no further future.
This is a genuine problem, not only for Pakistanis but also for Indians but apart from that can you please enlighten me as to why you find the heading funny.
This is a genuine problem, not only for Pakistanis but also for Indians but apart from that can you please enlighten me as to why you find the heading funny.
regards,
Aejaz.
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Dear Aejaz, There is no doubt that this is a serious problem, but have you considered that most of those ex-pats do not wish to return to thier country of origin and secondly the major reason i find the heading so funny, is beause of what it implies, which when i read, frankly made me Laugh Out Loud.
But Seriously, have you considered why people leave Less Developed Countries for Economically stable ones? That is what the author should be asking, rather then just highlighting the age of Pak Ex-Pats.
