Jhagra dismisses report of cutting pensions for widows, widowers

PESHAWR: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Finance and Health Minister Taimur Khan Jhagra has rubbished reports that his government was planning to eliminate pension for widows and widowers.

“There is no intent whatsoever to eliminate pension for the widows / widowers of pensioners. There is also no intent whatsoever to cap the age to which an individual may receive pension to 70 to 75,” Jhagra tweeted, terming the reports as absolutely untrue.

He continued:  “Pension reform is necessary, but its intent is to better protect the pensions of current pensioners and future pensioners. What poorly crafted headlines and stories do is to create doubt and confusion about reform in the public and employee interest.”

Earlier, Express Tribune reported that the government was seriously considering the elimination of pension for the widows and other family members of the deceased pensioners in the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province.

The objective, according to the report, was to reduce the financial liabilities of the government and control the ever increasing fiscal deficit.

For the current fiscal year of 2020-21 the allocation for pension is Rs86 billion against the development budget of Rs104 billion.

The proposal to eliminate pension for widows has been put forward as part of fiscal reforms for the next budge. As per the recommendation, the relatives, particularly the widow and unmarried daughter, of the pensioner will no longer be eligible for pension in the event of his death. Currently if a pensioner dies his widow or daughter or sister could claim his monthly pension if they are dependent financially on the pensioner.