960428

Hundreds of govt

servants seek

early retirement

RECORDER REPORT

ISLAMABAD: Hundreds of government servants have filed applications seeking early retirement following reports of reducing rate of commutation from 50 percent to 25 percent from July 1996.

The decision taken on the demand of International Monetary Fund (IMF) has sent a wave of unrest among civil servants who have completed 25 years of service or are near of superannuation.

The government is keeping mum over the report, said an official because it cannot be made public before budget.

Seeking early retirement would mean additional burden of commutation before the budget.

"Yes, civil servants are filing applications for early retirement and most of them are in the age group of 50 to 60 years. Exact figure of applications is not possible at the moment", confirmed a finance ministry official.

Retirement seekers demand that they should be retired by May 15, 1996.

It may be noted here that reports in a section of press says that government had decided to reduce the commutation from 50 percent to 25 percent of the government employees on the directives of IMF and the World Bank. Further, the facility of commutation would be withdrawn wholly. The decision, not applicable for armed forces, would be implemented from July 1, 1996.

The total number of Federal Government servants on July 1, 1993 was 1,75,189. Out of these only 1.4 percent are above the age of 50 years.