Punjab restores lifetime pension for widows

The Punjab government has restored lifetime pensions for widows of deceased government employees, reversing the earlier policy that limited benefits to a 10-year period, media outlets reported Thursday.

According to a notification issued by the Finance Department and approved by the Governor, pensions will now be distributed equitably in cases where a deceased employee had multiple marriages, ensuring all widows receive their due share.

The reform also specifies that if a widow remarries, her pension will be discontinued immediately. Officials described the measure as a “historic step” aimed at safeguarding the financial rights of women, potentially benefitting thousands of families across the province.

The move comes as part of wider pension reforms introduced by the federal and provincial governments to meet International Monetary Fund (IMF) requirements.

Under the revised framework, government officials and employees are no longer entitled to multiple pensions, and annual increments will only apply to the primary pension.

Authorities said the pension system has been fully digitized, covering more than 300,000 employees. Future pensions will now be calculated on the basis of the last 24 months of service.

The Pay and Pension Commission will also review the framework every three years, with the reforms expected to save billions of rupees for the national exchequer.