LAHORE – Ombudsman Punjab Javed Mahmood on Thursday directed Finance Department to review and obtain Chief Minister’s approval to increase the meagre amount of Rs3000 per month minimum pension in order to fulfil the promise made to the elderly and hapless retired government employees according to the constitution.
Ombudsman Punjab Javed Mahmood issued these orders on the complaint of a retired chowkidar of Sardar Town Sher Shah Colony Lahore, Muhammad Shafi who had not been receiving the minimum pension of three thousand rupees per month from Accountant General Punjab.
Ombudsman Punjab directed Consultant Ombudsman Office Wazir Ahmed Qureshi to probe into the matter. According to Wazir Ahmed Qureshi, Class-4 employees of Punjab government had been given minimum monthly pension of Rs300, after that Punjab government increased this amount to Rs2,000 per month in 2010 and later fixed Rs3,000 per month. Ombudsman Punjab ordered Accountant General Punjab to make payment of outstanding dues of minimum pension of Rs3000 to the applicant. He ordered that although Punjab government had enhanced minimum pension from Rs300 to Rs3000 per month yet due to price-hike and inflation this amount was very low for retired government employees to meet their both ends.