Instructions for Pensioners | Pension SOPs

Today, we will discuss the Government of Pakistan’s instructions for pensioners, family pensioners and overseas pensioners. These are pension SOPs. In pursuance of Prime Minister's directives, the Federal Government has formally eliminated the role of commercial banks in carrying out biometric verification or Proof of Life Certificate (PoLC) verification of pensioners for the purpose of pension payment under the Federal Government Receipt and Payment Rules,2025. The initiative is aimed at facilitating pensioners, simplifying verification procedures, reducing dependence on commercial banks and enhancing the efficiency, accessibility and transparency of pension administration. This SOP shall apply, in accordance with the Civil Services Regulations, to Federal Government pensioners who are retired civil servants, including pensioners residing in Pakistan and those residing abroad but receiving their pension in Pakistan. It shall cover pensioners receiving pension emoluments under the Defined Benefits Pension Scheme in accordance with the Federal Government Receipt and Payment Rules, 2025. National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) has integrated pensioners’ data with the Controller General of Accounts (CGA) and Military Accountant General (MAG) through secure API-based connectivity. Under this arrangement, the Digital Life Signal (DLS) is transmitted directly from NADRA to CGA/MAG, bypassing commercial banking channels and enabling a secure, efficient and technology-driven mechanism for verification of pensioners. Role of commercial banks shall be limited to Pension Disbursement Agencies and the commercial banks shall have no statutory or administrative role in the verification, collection, retention, or validation of Proof of Life Certificate (PoLC) or biometric data, in ordinary circumstances. However, where specifically authorized, commercial banks may act strictly as an operational conduit through NADRA’s designated system for generation or transmission of PoLCs. Furthermore, no pension disbursing account of a pensioner shall be rendered dormant by the commercial banks solely for the purpose of processing or disbursing pension payments. Previously the instructions from the State Bank of Pakistan regarding biometric verification, life certificate, and non-marriage certificate were as given below; 1. Pensioner shall be required to undergo biometric verification from any branch of a bank maintaining his/ her pension account, every year in March and September. If the pensioner is unable to undergo biometric verification due to incapacitation by bodily illness, or infirmity, or if his/ her fingerprints do not exist due to old age or a genetic condition, he/she will provide a life certificate as per the SOPs. 2. In the case of family pension, a Non-Marriage declaration shall be obtained from pensioners on or before 30th September of each year instead of March and September. 3. Submission of above mentioned Non-Marriage declaration will be dispensed with after the widow/ daughter/ sister of the pensioner (family pension recipient) attains the age of sixty years. 4. If a pensioner fails to submit a life certificate fails to undergo biometric verification during March and September or a pensioner does not draw a pension for consecutive six months, the account shall become dormant. #Pension #Pensioner #FamilyPension #BiometricVerification #LifeCertificate #Polc #PakId #NonMarriageCertificate #GovtEmployees #PensionNews #PensionSops #StateBankInstructions #GovtEmployeesUpdates