SAHIWAL (News Desk): The teaching community in Sahiwal has expressed grave concern and frustration over the persistent delays in the disbursement of GP Fund (General Provident Fund) by the District Account Office. Despite completing all legal formalities, hundreds of teachers claim they are being forced to wait for months to receive their own life savings.
Allegations of “Clerk Mafia” and Deliberate Delays
According to the affected teachers, even after submitting all required documentation and verified service records, the Account Office has failed to issue their Payrolls for over two months. The teachers have raised serious allegations regarding the internal workings of the office, stating:
Systemic Harassment: Teachers are frequently turned away under the guise of minor technicalities or missing “unofficial” requirements.
The “Clerk Mafia”: There are widespread claims that a specific group of clerical staff deliberately stalls files to solicit bribes or exert undue influence.
Mental Agony: Many retiring or serving teachers who need funds for medical emergencies or children’s weddings are facing severe financial distress due to these “red-tape” tactics.
Demand for Complete Digitalization
In response to the ongoing crisis, teachers’ unions have demanded a complete overhaul of the current system. They argue that the only way to curb corruption and eliminate the “middleman culture” is through technology. Their key demands include:
Total Online Processing: The GP Fund withdrawal process should be made 100% online, allowing teachers to track their applications in real-time without physical interaction with office staff.
Elimination of “Application Culture”: The requirement for manual petitions and repeated visits should be abolished in favor of a direct-to-bank automated system.
Accountability: An immediate inquiry into the Sahiwal Account Office to identify and penalize officials responsible for the two-month backlog.
“It is a painful irony that the builders of the nation are being forced to beg for their own hard-earned money. We are treated like strangers in the very offices meant to serve us,” said a senior school teacher who has been visiting the office since November.
The teaching community has warned that if the payrolls are not released and the “Clerk Mafia” is not reined in, they will launch a district-wide protest movement and stage a sit-in outside the Commissioner’s office.