The government's approach to pension reforms has left a trail of uncertainty. Proposals such as capping family pensions, taxing higher pensions and revising calculation methods are already in circulation. Retirees, those nearing retirement, and their families are left in the dark about how their financial security will be affected. This is not just about policy; it is about trust, dignity and the future of those who dedicated their working lives to the state.

The urgency is real. Pakistan's annual pension bill has crossed one trillion rupees, a staggering figure that is no longer sustainable. With rising life expectancy and fiscal pressures from international lenders, reform is unavoidable. But pensions are not charity; they are a deferred right earned through service. Reforming them without transparency and empathy is a recipe for social and political unrest.

The first major change (i.e. the switch from pensions being calculated on the last drawn salary to the average of the last two years) carries heavy implications. For most employees, the final........

© The Express Tribune