ISLAMABAD: New details have emerged regarding retired Pakistani government officers living abroad who receive their pensions in foreign currency, with official records showing that more than Rs342 million has been paid to overseas pensioners over the past five years.
According to official documents and a written response submitted by the Ministry of Finance to the National Assembly, 33 pensioners living abroad have received a total of Rs342.1 million, equivalent to payments made in foreign currency, since 2021.
The documents show that these pensioners are residing in different countries and receive their pensions through Pakistani diplomatic missions abroad. The highest concentration of such pensioners is in the United States, with 11 pensioners receiving payments through the Pakistani mission in Washington and another 10 receiving pensions in New York.
Four pensioners are based in Ottawa, Canada, while other overseas pensioners are located in cities including Houston, Toronto, Vancouver, London, Canberra, Vienna and Stockholm.
According to the Ministry of Finance, these pensioners do not have dollar protection. This means that any financial impact resulting from fluctuations in the exchange rate or depreciation of the Pakistani rupee is borne by the pensioner rather than the government.
The official response states that the pensions of such individuals are primarily determined in Pakistani rupees. However, payments are transferred in foreign currency through Pakistani diplomatic missions, with the Chief Accounts Officer arranging the transfer to the relevant bank account.
The official record includes individuals and families associated with various government departments and the Foreign Service. A significant number of the pensioners reportedly retired from government service two or three decades ago.
The documents also list the family of former ambassador Waliullah Khan among those receiving pensions in foreign currency. Families of former diplomatic officers Najma Abida and Quresha Begum are also reportedly receiving pension payments in foreign currency.
According to the available records, the family of Naseema Younis receives pension payments in Ottawa, while former Director General Ms Shamim Khalid is listed among pensioners receiving payments in Washington. Former Deputy Attorney General P. Allah Reham is also reported to be receiving a pension in New York.
Other names appearing in the documents include Salamat Noor, Ms Liaquat, Ejaz Ahmed, Muhammad Ramzan, Shireen Rehmatullah and Ms Aini Shafqat.
The documents indicate that during the past five years, approximately Rs135 million was paid to 11 pensioners in Washington, while around Rs100 million was paid to 10 pensioners in New York. Four pensioners in Australia reportedly received approximately Rs25 million, while around Rs30 million was paid to pensioners residing in other countries.
However, the Ministry of Finance has pointed out certain limitations concerning the monitoring and verification of pensioners living abroad. According to the ministry’s written response, pensioners are not legally required to inform the Auditor General of Pakistan about their relocation overseas.
For overseas pensioners, the existing system primarily requires the submission of a proof-of-life certificate. The ministry has acknowledged that the Auditor General’s Office does not have an effective mechanism to independently determine and regularly verify the current residential status of every pensioner living abroad.
The revelations come at a time when the government is facing increasing pressure to control public expenditure and review the country’s growing pension burden.
The payment of more than Rs342 million to 33 overseas pensioners over a period of several years has raised questions about the monitoring, verification and payment mechanisms for retired government officials residing outside Pakistan.
The Ministry of Finance, however, has clarified that in cases where pensions are paid in foreign currency, the financial impact of depreciation of the Pakistani rupee is not directly borne by the government. Instead, the pensioner bears the exchange-rate impact.
The issue therefore goes beyond the total amount paid and also raises questions about the system used to maintain records, verify beneficiaries, monitor their overseas residence and ensure that pension payments continue only to eligible recipients.
