I have recently retired from a prestigious Federal Government department after serving for more than 30 years. I spent all those years working for more than 10 hours a day and putting in the best of my abilities. But I forgot that one day I would be left helpless in the wilderness of homeless people. Near the end of my service the Pakistan Housing Authority announced a housing project under the Prime Minister Housing Scheme. I applied for a house and deposited more than one million rupees along with the application hoping to get a house somewhere in Islamabad or its suburbs at my retirement. But, alas after keeping the money for about a year, the Pakistan Housing Authority abandoned the project (for officers in grade 19) without citing any reason thereof. In sheer despair I tried knocking the doors of other federal government authorities but in vain. I even didn’t get any benefit from the Federal Government Employees Housing Foundation. The department I served, does not undertake providing any old age benefit to its employees. I am father of five daughters, rendered homeless at age 60 with a meager monthly pension, despite that I spent best of my years in the service of my country and my nation. May I ask the Respectable President of Pakistan and the worthy Prime Minister, whether I deserve a respectable living at the twilight of my life after serving this country for so long.
BAKHTIAR QAYYUM,
Islamabad, March 9.