Press Release Title: Senator Saleem Mandviwalla Convener Sub-Committee of The Senate Standing Committee on Aviation Presiding over a Meeting of The Committee at Parliament House Islamabad

Press Release Date: 30th January, 2024

The Sub-Committee of Senate Standing Committee on Aviation, chaired by Senator Saleem Mandviwalla, convened today at Parliament to discuss the pension issue of Civil Aviation Authority employees, retired between fiscal years 2014 to 2023. The sub-committee was informed that CAA pensioners are categorized into three groups: those retired before 30th June 2014, those retired between 1st July 2014 to 30th  June 2022, and those retired after 30th June 2022. Officials noted that pensioners retired before 2014 have no grievances. Additionally, pensioners retired between 2014 and 2022 have been receiving all allowances increased by the Federal Government except for the 2021 and 2022 allowances. However, pensioners retired after 2022 have not received five allowances as announced by the Federal Government. Officials mentioned a clear disparity in pension emoluments for several pensioners. Officials acknowledged anomalies in few CAA regulations, stating that the issue would not be resolved without amending the regulations and obtaining subsequent approval from the Board, but at the same time, they highlighted the issue of excessive payment to a group of pensioners that ought to be recovered. The Petitioners demanded that interim relief may be granted until relevant rules are amended, and pensioners matter be presented before next CAA board meeting. Afterwards, the Secretary Aviation committed that since Election Commission of Pakistan has suspended meetings of all Boards, so, the next meeting would be held after general elections on 8th February 2024, and shortly afterwards, this matter would be placed before the CAA Board, in which amended regulations would be presented along with pensioners matter would be discussed in the light of these regulations and  petitioners would be called to attend the meeting as well. To conclude, the convenor disposed off the agenda item  on the basis of assurance given by the Secretary Aviation with the direction that rights of discriminated pensioners would be protected on priority basis. In attendance were Senator Umer Farooq and senior officials of Ministry of Aviation and Civil Aviation Authority.