The government, in collaboration with Accountant General Pakistan Revenues (AGPR), has launched an e-Pension Portal to digitize pension services for government employees and pensioners, with the new system designed to reduce processing time and limit the need for repeated visits to government offices.
The new portal is intended to make the pension process more accessible by allowing employees and pensioners to track pension cases online instead of relying on repeated visits to government offices during the processing of retirement cases. According to the information released about the system, pension cases are expected to be processed in days rather than months, reducing the time involved in completing the procedures associated with retirement and pension payments. The digital system also introduces greater flexibility in receiving pension payments, as pension amounts can be transferred directly to commercial bank accounts rather than being restricted to designated National Bank branches. This change is intended to give pensioners another option for receiving their payments while reducing the need to visit specific bank branches for pension-related transactions. The portal will also provide SMS notifications to registered mobile numbers when a pension is released or when a deduction is made, giving pensioners information about changes or transactions involving their pension accounts. Employees who are approaching retirement will have their relevant information uploaded to the system through their respective departments before retirement, allowing the pension process to be initiated through the digital system.
The government has also introduced biometric verification as part of the digitized pension process. Under the existing arrangement, pensioners were required to submit a Life Certificate at a bank twice a year. With the new system, pensioners can complete verification through fingerprint authentication at a bank branch or a biometric-enabled Automated Teller Machine every six months. The government is also working on mobile applications that could allow pensioners to complete the verification process from home using a mobile phone camera for facial or fingerprint verification. The proposed mobile-based option would provide an alternative to visiting a bank for verification, although the government is still working on the applications. Pension accounts may be temporarily blocked if the required biometric verification is not completed within the specified period. The account can then be restored after the pensioner successfully completes the required verification. The biometric component is therefore being incorporated into the pension system alongside online case tracking and electronic payment services, bringing several previously separate pension procedures into a digital framework.
To register for the online pension system, an employee must first have their data uploaded to the e-Pension Portal through their respective department. The information required for registration includes a Computerized National Identity Card, personal number and an active mobile phone number. After the department completes the data entry process, the employee is issued a unique Pension ID. This Pension ID can then be used to access pension-related services and track the progress of the pension case through the online system. The launch represents a shift from paperwork and repeated physical visits toward digital processing of government pension services, while the inclusion of direct commercial bank transfers, SMS alerts and biometric verification adds several electronic features to the pension process. The system is being introduced in collaboration with AGPR as the government seeks to digitize pension administration for employees approaching retirement as well as people already receiving pensions.
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