ISLAMABAD: The government has begun rolling out a series of reforms to accelerate pension payments for citizens living abroad, with the Ministry of Finance confirming new digital systems designed to remove delays that have troubled overseas retirees for years.
The steps follow coordination between the Finance Division, the Controller General of Accounts and the Accountant General Pakistan Revenues, which have been working to align pension records and improve the flow of information across public sector departments.
Officials say the reforms focus on tightening data links between autonomous bodies and the AGPR so that pensions for employees on deputation or operating under separate contribution structures can be processed without the inconsistencies that have long clogged the system. The ministry says stronger coordination will help ensure that pension histories, contribution records and withdrawal cases are recorded accurately and transferred on time.
A central part of the reform package is a unified digital ledger for pension data, intended to track service histories and verify entitlements securely. The government is also attempting to clear bottlenecks for employees of entities that have been dissolved or merged, where pension cases frequently stall due to missing records or unclear administrative responsibility.
Officials say that cases involving leave encashment and General Provident Fund withdrawals are being prioritised to protect the rights of civil servants approaching retirement.
Overseas pensioners are expected to see the biggest shift once the National Database and Registration Authority completes an online verification system that uses biometric and facial recognition tools. The platform will allow pensioners to submit proof of life certificates remotely instead of travelling to Pakistan for in person confirmation, a process that has historically caused months of delay for many retirees.
The Finance Ministry has directed the State Bank of Pakistan to work with commercial banks to ensure that payment systems are aligned with the new online platform. The ministry says the reforms are part of a wider push to modernise pensions and reduce friction for former government employees, regardless of where they are based.
