Renowned social worker Muhammad Ramadan Chhipa has pledged support for retired Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited (PTCL) employees demanding the payment of outstanding pensions and retirement benefits.
Speaking at an event at the Karachi Press Club, Chhipa said he would raise the concerns of retired employees on every available platform. He urged the government to ensure the immediate payment of pensions and other outstanding dues.
The event brought together retired PTCL officials, journalists, legal representatives and social figures to discuss the challenges faced by former employees, particularly those from lower-grade positions.
Retired Employees Highlight Pension Concerns
Syed Imtiaz Zaidi, a retired PTCL general manager who travelled from Canada, co-hosted the event alongside Sabir Hussain, Muhammad Jaleel, Masood Bhatti, Latifullah Aqili and Advocate Raheb Lakho.
Zaidi said lower-grade retired employees were facing serious financial difficulties and alleged that the current administration had failed to provide them with their rightful benefits despite their contributions to the organisation.
He reaffirmed that the campaign would continue until all retired employees received their outstanding dues.
Advocate Masood Bhatti highlighted the legal aspects of the pension dispute, stating that government-announced pension increases and related benefits were not being extended to PTCL retirees. He also questioned the implementation of pension policies for employees recognised as government employees.
Karachi Press Club Assures Support
Karachi Press Club Secretary Aslam Khan addressed the gathering and assured participants of the press club’s full support for the retired employees’ campaign.
During the event, singer Imran Nashad also presented a Naat in praise of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), receiving an emotional response from the audience.
At the conclusion, Ramadan Chhipa and Aslam Khan presented commemorative shields to retired employees, officers and individuals recognised for their participation in the campaign.
Recipients included Jaleel Ahmed, Rashid Anwar, Saleem Khan, Abdul Khaliq, Advocate Raheb Lakho, journalist Tariq Aslam, Abdul Waseem Qureshi and Imran Nashad, among others.
The gathering concluded with renewed calls for the resolution of pension-related grievances and payment of outstanding retirement benefits to former PTCL employees.