The Supreme Court (SC) has delivered a landmark judgment in favour of former employees of Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited (PTCL), ruling that they are fully entitled to pension benefits.In a detailed decision issued on nearly 200 petitions, a two-member bench comprising Chief Justice Yahya Afridi and Justice Aminuddin Khan declared that former PTCL employees are legitimate pension holders and that financial constraints faced by the company do not absolve it from its responsibility to make pension payments. 

The apex court directed PTCL to formulate a payment schedule within 90 days and begin disbursing the dues accordingly. The court also emphasised that the pension payments must be fair, transparent, and aligned with federal government revisions, ensuring that the genuine grievances of the pensioners are addressed. The judgment, however, clarified that former employees who accepted Voluntary Separation Schemes (VSS) are not eligible for pension benefits under this ruling. 

The decision comes as a significant relief to hundreds of retired employees who have been battling a prolonged legal battle for their rightful dues. PTCL, now a subsidiary of e& (formerly Etisalat Group), is the largest integrated Information Communication Technology (ICT) company in Pakistan. Since its origins as a telephone and telegraph department in 1947, PTCL has grown into the country’s premier digital service provider. 

It offers a wide range of services, including high-speed broadband, wireless internet (CharJi), IPTV (Smart TV), OTT apps, data centres, satellite connectivity, and enterprise solutions across Pakistan. Despite its modern digital transformation and vast fibre-optic infrastructure, the company has faced criticism and litigation over the treatment of its former employees, particularly concerning pension rights after privatisation. Today’s verdict sets a precedent for holding corporatised state entities accountable to their retired workforce.

Credit: Independent News Pakistan (INP)