The All Pakistan Railways Pensioners Association has urged the federal government to grant a 100 percent increase in pensions and medical allowance in the 2026–27 federal budget, citing soaring inflation and the sharp rise in medicine prices that have made healthcare unaffordable for many elderly former employees.
The demand was formalised through a resolution unanimously adopted at an emergency meeting of the association chaired by Muhammad Aslam Adil Butt. Members of the association’s central cabinet participated via video link to consider the worsening economic pressures on retirees and to back the call for immediate relief.
Additional Secretary General Abdul Razzaq Shah Jilani, acting in place of Secretary General Aurangzeb Tanoli, presented a detailed briefing on the current situation and tabled the resolution. The proposal received unanimous approval from all participants, who stressed that escalating inflation has significantly increased the hardships faced by Railway pensioners.
The resolution not only demanded the 100 percent pension and medical allowance hike but also urged the prompt settlement of all pending dues owed to retired staff. Participants appealed to the government to treat pensioners’ grievances as a priority and to respond on humanitarian grounds given the vulnerability of senior citizens.
Speakers warned that elderly pensioners may be compelled to organise protests if their demands continue to be ignored, a move the association said it would seek to avoid through constructive engagement with authorities. The meeting ended with special prayers for the security and prosperity of the country and for a timely resolution of pensioners’ issues.
