On the orders of the Provincial Ombudsman the Punjab government has released Rs235 million in payments related to family pension cases.
According to a spokesperson for the Punjab Ombudsman a woman from Pakpattan approached the regional office of the Ombudsman after she was denied a pension following her husband’s death.
The complainant stated that after her husband passed away the District Food Authority Sahiwal failed to issue her family pension leaving her facing severe financial hardship.
After receiving the complaint the Pakpattan office took up the matter with the relevant authorities and actively pursued the case.
The spokesperson said that as a result of the Punjab Ombudsman’s intervention in family pension cases across the province the Government of Punjab released the funds and a total of Rs235 million was paid to complainants.
Punjab repeals 2018 service act, ends pension for new employees
Previously, the Punjab government took a major policy decision to abolish the pension facility for government employees. This move is aimed at reducing the growing financial burden on the provincial exchequer.
The Punjab government officially repealed the Punjab Regularisation of Service Act 2018.
Under the new policy, all departmental recruitments will follow a lump-sum pay package instead of the traditional basic pay scale.
The decision also states that contract employees who are later regularised will not be eligible for a pension.
The government says the move is intended to ease the financial burden on the provincial treasury from pension obligations.
Recruitments and regularisations completed under the 2018 Act will remain valid and will not be affected by the new changes.
Pension for New Employees
The new policy will apply only to fresh recruitments in provincial departments. While existing employees appointed under the 2018 law will continue to receive pensions.
The government clarified that contract employees who are made permanent in the future will also not be eligible for a pension under the revised system.
Under this new framework, new government employees in Punjab will be recruited on a “lump-sum” package instead of a basic salary with pension benefits.
Also read: Punjab Repeals 2018 Service Act, Ends Pension for New Employees
