Afghanistan Peace CampaignAmong them is 65-year-old Bori Qul, who dedicated more than thirty years of his life to serving in the country’s government institutions.
A number of pensioners have once again gathered in protest over the non-payment of their pensions.
These pensioners, who each spent over thirty to forty years serving in government institutions, gather weekly in front of the Pension General Directorate with distressed faces and anxious eyes, seeking a way to receive their retirement payments.
Among them is 65-year-old Bori Qul, who dedicated more than thirty years of his life to serving in the country’s government institutions.
He stated that he once worked in hopes of building a better future for the next generations, but now he himself is facing severe economic challenges.
Bori Qul, pensioner, added: “I have a son, who works as a mechanic. If he finds work, he brings in one or two hundred Afghanis and we have no other income. We are a family of six or seven people to feed. I used to buy bread with my pension. It’s been five years since I’ve received my pension; now we can’t even buy bread and are in debt for our house rent.”
Other pensioners have also gathered in front of the Pension General Directorate over the non-payment of their pensions, demanding immediate payment from the Islamic Emirate.
“We urge the Minister of Finance and the Head of the Pension Fund to urgently follow up on our cases. All these poor people are in debt. Most of the pensioners here walk on foot,” said Habibullah, a pensioner.
“Personally, I find four or five pieces of bread a day and bring them home. That’s how we survive each day,” said Abdul Hakim, another pensioner.
These pensioners have repeatedly referred to the Pension General Directorate, the Ministry of Finance, the court, and UNAMA demanding their pension payments, but the caretaker government has recently given no updates about when their pensions will be paid.