The federal government has very magnanimously approved raise in family pension from 50% to 75%. The Ministry of Finance has already issued notification No F.2(3)Reg-6/2010-786 dated 05.07.10. This was excellent news for the widows of the government servants who were finding it difficult to meet both ends in the meagre amount of family pension so far paid to them.
To us the directive is quite clear for its application on widows who are already drawing family pension except that they are not entitled for any arrears before 01.07.10. The National Bank, Wah Cantt, however, has assumed that the raise from 50% to 75% is only applicable to those widows, who will be entitled to family pension after 01.07.10. Accordingly the bank is not willing to pay the additional amount to the widows already drawing family pension.
While we are clear about the intentions of the government, the bank has shut its eyes. We have been left with no option but to approach the Ministry of Finance through the newspaper to advise National Bank to obey its orders and help government to alleviate the poverty.