ISLAMABAD: The Auditor General of Pakistan (AGP) has announced that monthly pension can directly be drawn through bank accounts.
AGP said this during a meeting with Federal Finance Minister Ishaq Dar. He said that all the existing pensioners will be converted to the Direct Credit System (DCS). As per decision all officers in BS-17 and above at the federal government level would be converted to the DCS system by March 31, 2016
AGP shared with initiatives and recommendations envisaged by the Office of AGP for facilitation of pensioners in the country. After detailed briefing by the AGP, important decisions were taken with a view to facilitate the pensioners. It was decided that first and foremost pensioners in KP, Sindh, GB, AJK and Baluchistan would be asked to institute mandatory Direct Credit System (DCS) for new pensioners as in the case of Federal and Punjab Governments.
It was decided that the Pension application form would be simplified in consultation with Ministry of Finance and reduced from the current sixteen to two pages. The meeting observed that simplification of pension form was need of the hour and much desired by the pensioners. Further it was decided that a Full System Integration (PMIS) would be developed between AGPR and Offices of the AGP throughout the country to facilitate payment of pension and have proper data about pensioners.
The Finance Minister on this occasion observed that Ministries and Departments of the Federal Government needed to have a designated Welfare Officer solely to look after the affairs of the pensioners and facilitate them in every possible manner. The Minister gave direction that all banks in the country should establish counters for pensioners’ facilitation and initiate the process to covert the pensioners to DCS system. Decision was also taken in the meeting that the AGP Office would henceforth send quarterly reports to Principal Accounting Officers and Heads of Departments conveying names of officials to be retired from service. This would help them manage the pension matters in an effective and amicable manner.
Minister Dar appreciated the recommendations and initiatives put forth by the AGP and desired for effective implementation on them. He said the Ministry of Finance would extend all cooperation required in this regard. He said it was resolve of the present government to put an end to pensioners’ difficulties and take measures that could ensure respectability and comfort for pensioners in receiving their pensions. It may be recalled that during his last visit to the office of AGP, the Finance Minister had expressed his profound desire that AGP may devise a system for pensioners’ facilitation and accordingly the AGP came up with the recommendations.
