For nine long months, six retired employees of the Punjab Education Curriculum and Textbook Authority (PECTA) have been waiting for what they say is their rightful due—pensions and post-retirement benefits earned after decades of service. Instead of enjoying a well-deserved rest, they find themselves protesting in the scorching heat, demanding the release of their funds.
The group includes Subject Specialist Anwar Sajid, Laika Khanum, Superintendent Ishtiaq, office worker Nafeesul Hassan, and Grade IV employees Sakhawat and Mubeen Ahmed. They retired between December and January, only to be met with silence and procedural delays. Some now warn they might be pushed toward extreme measures if their financial distress continues.
Gathering outside PECTA’s headquarters, the retirees have staged repeated demonstrations, accusing the authority of dragging its feet and neglecting the welfare of those who served it for years. Their frustration is palpable, their patience running thin.
PECTA officials, however, reject claims of a funding crisis. They insist the matter will be resolved “soon,” though no clear timeline has been given. While such assurances may sound promising, for the retirees, each passing day deepens their financial and emotional strain.
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This dispute exposes a troubling reality—bureaucratic bottlenecks can turn a well-earned retirement into an exhausting battle for basic rights. Yet, to remain fair, the picture may not be entirely one-sided. Administrative processes, budget cycles, and formal audits can slow payments, even without malicious intent. Still, the longer the delay, the harder it becomes to justify, and the more it undermines the dignity of those who dedicated their lives to public service. In the end, whether by inefficiency or neglect, the result remains the same: six former employees waiting far too long for the peace of mind they were promised.