ISLAMABAD: Retired employees of the Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) have appealed to the federal minister for Inter-Provincial Coordination and the secretary of the IPC ministry to take immediate notice of the non-payment of their pensions for the last two months and ensure early release of their dues.
In a press release, the retired employees said they had been receiving pensions regularly since 2006 without any objection or adverse observation from any competent forum, including the Auditor General of Pakistan, commercial auditors, the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Inter-Provincial Coordination. They said the nearly two-decade practice reflected the legitimacy and transparency of the pension system.
The retired employees said the PSB Board, in its 34th meeting, approved the implementation of the Contributory Pension Scheme in line with the federal government’s policy with effect from July 1, 2025. Under the arrangement, monthly deductions at the rate of 10 per cent of basic pay are being made from serving employees, while existing pensioners are contributing at the prescribed rate, which is to be enhanced to 20 per cent upon attaining the age of 72 years.
They maintained that the federal government’s policy clearly provides that the Contributory Pension Scheme shall apply only to employees appointed on a regular basis on or after July 1, 2024. However, they said, deductions had also been imposed on existing PSB pensioners, effectively applying the scheme retrospectively.
According to the pensioners, this has caused serious concern among retired employees, who believe the policy was never intended to affect those who had already retired before its implementation.
The press release said the situation had become more distressing due to the re-appropriation of third and fourth quarter grants by the Ministry of IPC for release of funds to the Pakistan Hockey Federation. As a result, it said, the PSB was facing severe financial constraints and pensioners had not received their pensions for the last two months.
The retired employees said that, amid unprecedented inflation and rising living costs, the non-payment of pensions had caused immense financial hardship, as many pensioners depended solely on their monthly pension to meet basic needs, medical expenses and household obligations.
They further claimed that the amount re-appropriated and released to the Pakistan Hockey Federation had reportedly not been placed before the PSB Board for approval. They also said that instead of addressing the immediate concerns of pensioners, the PSB director general constituted a Pension Committee without a decision of the Board.
Quoting the relevant Board decision, the press release said: “Preparation of proposal for the Pension Fund and placement before the Board for deliberation.”
The pensioners expressed fear that, instead of resolving the current financial crisis, efforts were being diverted towards exploring alternative arrangements while their legitimate concerns remained unaddressed.
They urged the federal minister for Inter-Provincial Coordination and the secretary of the IPC ministry to ensure immediate release of the pending pension for the last two months, restoration of regular and timely payment of pensions in future, and protection of the rights and dignity of retired employees who had devoted decades of service to the nation through the Pakistan Sports Board.
