List of 33 retired officers receiving dollar pensions revealed

A list of 33 retired Pakistani officers receiving monthly pensions in US dollars from the government has come to light,

ISLAMABAD: A list of 33 retired Pakistani officers receiving monthly pensions in US dollars from the government has come to light, with official records showing that payments equivalent to approximately Rs34 crore were made over the past five years.

According to documents obtained by *Minute Mirror* from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the beneficiaries are retired government officers or their families who are currently residing abroad. Their pension payments have reportedly been processed through Pakistani embassies and diplomatic missions in different countries.

The records show that a significant portion of the payments was made through Pakistan’s diplomatic missions in Washington and New York, while other beneficiaries received payments through missions in Canada, Australia, the United Kingdom and various European countries.

According to documents reviewed by *Minute Mirror*, the Washington embassy accounted for 11 beneficiaries, with payments totaling around Rs13.5 crore over five years.

The names identified in the Washington list include former Director General Ms Shamim Khalid, the family of former Ambassador Ulellah Khan, and the families of former cypher officers Najma Abida and Quraysha Begum.

Other beneficiaries listed under the Washington mission include Salman Noor, Ms Liakat, Ijaz Ahmad, Muhammad Ramadan, Shehreen Rahmatullah and Ms Aini Shafqat. One additional name has been withheld pending official confirmation.

The New York Consulate accounted for another 10 beneficiaries, with payments amounting to approximately Rs10 crore during the five-year period. Former Deputy Auditor General of Pakistan Allah Rahim is among the beneficiaries identified in the documents, while the names of the remaining individuals are awaiting official confirmation.

The Ottawa High Commissio list includes the family of Nasima Yunus. The beneficiary is included in the broader amount of approximately Rs3 crore paid to beneficiaries in Canada and other countries.

Four beneficiaries are associated with the Pakistan High Commission in Australia, where payments totaling around Rs2.5 crore were reportedly made over five years. Their names have not been released pending confirmation.

The remaining seven beneficiaries are associated with Pakistan’s diplomatic missions in the United Kingdom and other European countries. Their identities are also being withheld until official verification is completed.

The documents indicate that most of the retired officers included in the records had left government service around two or three decades ago. Despite their retirement, pension payments continued to be made while the beneficiaries were residing overseas.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has reportedly directed that the practice of paying such pensions in foreign currency be discontinued. A summary has subsequently been forwarded to the federal cabinet, proposing that future pension payments be made in Pakistani rupees.

The issue has raised questions regarding the mechanism used to process pension payments to retired officers living abroad and the financial impact of maintaining payments in foreign currency.

*Minute Mirror* has so far verified eight names from the official documents. The remaining names are being withheld until final confirmation is received from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the relevant authorities.

The newspaper will update the list if and when the government officially releases or confirms the remaining beneficiaries.