PTV Pensioners Demand Justice Over Alleged Misuse of NIT Units and Delayed Commutation Payments

Open Letter for Immediate Redressal

To:
The Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting,
The Chairman, Standing Committee on Information and Broadcasting,
The Secretary, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting

Respected Sir(s),

We, the retired employees of Pakistan Television Corporation (PTV) and pensioners who have been awaiting payment of our lawful commutation since September 2022, wish to bring to your attention our grave concerns, grievances, and plea for justice.

We remain hopeful that you will take immediate notice of our situation and issue necessary directives to address the injustices faced by elderly and vulnerable pensioners, and initiate strict action against those responsible for these irregularities.

Sir,

During the years 2020 to 2021, two audit firms, KPMG and CEST Law Consultant, were engaged at a cost of PKR 5,50,000 to review the status, ownership, and rights related to NIT Units. Both firms clearly concluded in their audit reports that the ownership of these NIT Units rests with the employee members of PTV, as they are held under a trust structure.

However, on July 12, 2024, the PTV administration, acting in bad faith, allegedly bypassed proper approvals and disregarded the authority of the Managing Director. At that time, the then Director Finance and Controller Finance, in violation of rules and regulations, obtained a favorable decision from a self constituted Board of Trustees. Based on this, a summary was moved to approve the sale of NIT Units under the pretext of paying pensioners’ commutation.

Subsequently, these NIT Units were sold at a rate of PKR 55.82 per unit, generating approximately PKR 645,278,451.45. It was claimed that PTV held a 50 percent share in these units, and therefore the proceeds were diverted to a bank instead of being disbursed to pensioners. This action directly contradicted the audit findings, which had affirmed that the units belonged solely to employee members.

Despite this sale, pensioners have still not received their full commutation payments since 2022. Disturbingly, during this period, certain officials allegedly misused their authority and secured full commutation payments for themselves, while ordinary pensioners continued to suffer.

Respected Sir,

It is important to highlight that had these NIT Units not been sold in 2024 at undervalued rates, their current market value in 2026 stands at approximately PKR 170 per unit. This premature sale has deprived pensioners of potential profits worth billions of rupees.

Furthermore, we have learned that there are plans to sell additional NIT Units worth PKR 400 million in April 2026 to pay only 30 percent commutation to pensioners from 2022 to 2026. This raises serious concerns of continued injustice, as it may disproportionately benefit recent retirees, including those in positions of authority, while earlier pensioners remain unpaid despite court orders.

It is also pertinent to note that the High Courts of Islamabad, Peshawar, Lahore, and Karachi have already issued decisions directing the immediate payment of commutation to pensioners from 2022 and 2023.

In conclusion,

We earnestly request you to

1. Order a transparent and independent investigation into the sale of NIT Units and the utilization of the funds.
2. Hold accountable all officials involved in these unlawful and unethical actions.
3. Ensure full and prioritized payment of commutation to pensioners retired from 2022 onwards, in compliance with court rulings.
4. Prevent further financial mismanagement and safeguard the rights of employees and pensioners.

We, the elderly and distressed pensioners, appeal to you for immediate justice. After years of waiting, we are still struggling for our rightful dues, and further delays will only deepen our hardship.

Yours sincerely,
PTV Retired Employees and Pensioners