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Karachi, May 10, 2016 (PPI-OT):Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah, keeping in view the plight of pensioners, has approved Rs381 million to pay salaries and pension to the employees of Sindh Council Unified Grades Service (SCUGC). He took this decision while presiding over a meeting of Local Government Department here at the CM House today.
The meeting was attended by Senior Minister for Finance and Energy Syed Murad Ali Shah, Minister for Local Government Jam Khan Shoro, acting Chief Secretary Rizwan Memon, Principal Secretary to CM Alamuddin Bullo, Secretary Local Government Noor Mohammad Laghari and Secretary Finance Sohail Rajput.
Minister Local Government Jam Khan Shoro said that the chief minister had enhanced the annual share of Sindh Local Government Board (SLGB) from Rs140 million to Rs250 million per year in 2014. This amount is not sufficient to meet financial requirement of the board. The pensioners who retired from service from November 2013 and onward are waiting for release of their commutation/gratuity. “Due to this crisis SLGB has not released pension to more than 1000 pensioners according to prevailing rates, including 10 percent increase announced from July 2014.
Secretary Local Government Noor Mohammad Laghari elaborating the issue further said that the share of SLGB was not increased from 2004 to June 2013. By the time, the pay and pension has been increased upto 175 percent. He added that the SLGB from its present share of Rs250 million could not disburse pension to its retired officials.
He said that presently the number of pensioners has reached to 1200. Giving further details, he said the family pension has been revised from 50 percent to 75 percent, medical allowance from 20 to 25 percent from 2010, seven percent cost of living allowance and such other allowances have further enhanced the financial requirement of the board.
The chief minister said that it was quite depressing that the SLGB could not pay salaries and pensions. “Pensioners must be taken care of in terms of payment of their salaries and such other benefits,” he said and added that he was shocked to know that most of them are waiting for payment of the their gratuity. Secretary local government said that he has worked out expenditures of SLGB. The pension contribution in respect of 3067 SCUG retired employees come to Rs305 million. Apart from it, the contribution of maintenance of board is not enough.
Secretary Finance Sohail Rajput said that he had worked out that Rs312 million per annum were required to SLGB for payment of pension to SCUG and Rs69.6 million are enough Maintenance of Sindh local government board (SLGB). Senior Minister for Finance Syed Murad Ali Shah said that he has already gone through the requirement of the SLGB expenditures. All together pension and Maintenance expenditures come to Rs381.8 million annually.
He added that the liabilities of Rs132 million accumulated on account of payment of gratuity/Commutation and increase in pension for the year 2014-15 upto 2016 may be released after necessary verification. The chief minister keeping in view the plight of pensioners approved the release of Rs381.8 million and directed Local government minister to ensure proper disbursement to the pensioners.
For more information, contact:
Mr. Allah Bachayo Memon
Press Secretary
Chief Minister House
Tel: +92-21-99202019
Cell: +92-300-3524057 (Ext: 336)
Website: www.cmsindh.gov.pk