ISLAMABAD: Official documents presented before Parliament have revealed that 33 retired senior government officials are currently living abroad while receiving pensions from the government of Pakistan.
According to documents submitted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the retired officials moved to different foreign countries after completing their government service and continue to receive pension payments while residing outside Pakistan.
The documents show that the government pays approximately Rs342.1 million annually in pensions to the 33 retired officials. A portion of these payments is made in the foreign currencies of the countries where the pensioners currently reside.
The pension arrangements vary depending on the country. In some cases, retired officials living abroad receive their pensions directly in the relevant foreign currency, allowing them to receive payments in the currency of their country of residence.
However, some pensioners living overseas continue to receive their pensions in Pakistani rupees.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs provided the figures in response to questions concerning retired government officials who have settled abroad and continue to receive pension payments from Pakistan.
According to the documents, the 33 retired officials belong to different government departments and institutions. After completing their service, they moved to various countries but remain entitled to pension benefits under the applicable government rules.
The disclosure has drawn attention to the financial implications of pension payments to former government officials who permanently or for long periods reside outside Pakistan.
An important limitation in the data has also emerged. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that it does not have figures for retired officials living abroad who receive their pensions in Pakistani currency.
This means the Rs342.1 million figure may not represent the complete amount being paid to all retired government officials residing outside the country.
The documents presented before Parliament therefore provide details of 33 retired officers whose pension payments are being made while they live abroad, while the broader financial impact remains unclear because of the absence of complete data.
The disclosure has renewed attention on government pension expenditure and the arrangements under which retired officials continue to receive benefits after relocating overseas.
📊 Key Figures
| Detail | Figure |
|---|---|
| Retired officials living abroad | 33 |
| Annual pension payments disclosed | Rs342.1 million |
| Approximate annual amount | Rs342.1 crore |
| Pension currencies | Foreign currencies and Pakistani rupees |
| Source | Ministry of Foreign Affairs documents |
