Supreme Court takes notice of pensioners' woes

The Supreme Court has taken suo motu notice of the problems being faced by pensioners in receiving their pensions from banks, and directed State Bank of Pakistan Governor to submit a report in the matter on July 12.

In the notice, Justice Javed Iqbal has also asked the SBP Governor to make suggestions on a better mode of disbursement of pensions to facilitate the pensioners. An official said that the apex court took notice on a report telecast on 'PTV World' on June 25 in which the plight of pensioners in receiving their pensions was highlighted.

It was shown that the pensioners had to stand in a queue in front of the banks as early as 4 am to 1 o'clock (mid day) to receive their pensions. According to the report, only a limited number of pensioners receive their pension due to the rush and lack of facilities in the banks. Only a single window is available for hundreds of pensioners, and most of them return empty handed and again stand in the queue next day.