PTCL refuses to pay Rs 41 billion to pensioners

Aftab Ahmed

Islamabad:Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited (PTCL) refuses to pay Rs 41 billion dues to retired employees on account of pension.

PTCL is to pay Rs 41 billion dues to pensioners who are going from pillar to post and filing cases but there has been no remedy. The company pays only to 343 pension to retired employees and it fails to pay to 20,000 retired employees.

The sub body of senate standing committee on IT grilled PTCL authorities on Tuesday over failure to pay pension amounting to Rs 41 billion to 20,000 employees.

PTCL authorities informed that payment had been made to retired employees till August who had filed cases in cases.

The total dues of pensioners amount to Rs 41 billion till end of December 2018.we can pay unless our source of income are increased. Trust can not pay from existing fund, PTCL authorities said.

Senator Rehman Malik said that employees had served entire life in PTCL and therefore, pension should be paid to them. We will do what we can do for retired employees,he said.

If you don’t follow order of Supreme Court, we will give our decision, he said. This is Parliament and orders you to pay, he added.

PTCL pays to only 343 pensioners, why others have not been paid, Senator Kalsoom asked. PTCL officials said that the company has to pay Rs 41 billion outstanding to 20,000 pensioners.

Rukhsana Zubairi said that current law gives protection to employees. She said it is your responsibility to arrange funds to pay dues to pensioners. The parliamentary body has sought details till April 26 regarding payment to pensioners. It also sought details of missing pensioners and details relating to expenditure on filing cases.