HYDERABAD: February 6, 2010. (Sameer Nazir reports for PCP) The Sectary to Youth Affairs, Government of Pakistan Nazar Muhammad Mahar has directed the administration of all Federal, Provincial and District Government departments for providing quality training and enhancing skill development of youths enrolled under National Internship Programme (NIP). This he directed while holding a meeting with D.C.O. Hyderabad Aftab Ahmed Khatri and the officers of district government Hyderabad at DCO Camp Office to review over the implementation on NIP programme at Hyderabad last night. He said that Federal Government was spending huge amount on the skill development of youths only to increase employability in their respective fields and directed the officers concerned to transfer their expertise to these unemployed youths enable them to get job in the market or absorb them in case of their best performances. Meanwhile, The Controller General of Accounts Islamabad Masued Muzaffar inaugurated pension facilitation cell here in the office of District Account Officer Hyderabad today, to get the pensions of pensioners finalized on the date of their retirement. Talking to the Journalists after inauguration at DAO Hyderabad and addressing to the briefing at Shahbaz Hall, Hyderabad, Masud Muzaffar said that after introducing this system, Pakistan was the first country in Asia where now retirees employees to get their pensions on the date of their retirement while this process takes atleast one month in other countries of Asia. Similarly after Karachi, Hyderabad was second fortune city in Pakistan where pension facilitation cell has been established. He said that the executives of all departments have been directed to submit the list of anticipated retires six months before for finalizing their data in advance. He said that after obtaining such data in advance the release of pension has been made possible on the same day. Responding a question, the Controller General Accounts Islamabad said that this system would be extended in other districts of Sindh and provinces of Pakistan. He said that henceforth the case of pension and G.P. Fund of Government employees being computerized and announced that Visa Card would be issued to pensioners for their facility and to avoid from long queue in banks. Later, the Accountant General Sindh Eijaz Ali Pirzada while briefing the Controller General Accounts Islamabad, the officers of Accounts Offices and district government Hyderabad at Shahbaz Hall Hyderabad said that A.G. Office is passing through the paradigm shift that is from traditional approach to advance Information Technology based approach by creating Professional capacity building in the accounting offices. He said that all District Accounts Offices have been computerized and connected through SAP system. He said that previously pensioners used to face great deal of hassle and problems and taking almost months in finalization of their pension cases in A.G. Office alone. He said that pensioners who in most of the cases have already crossed their 60 years of age or their families are usually not in such physical condition that they can frequently visit the District Accounts offices due to this these pensioners were compelled to play in the hands of the agents mafia. He said that after introducing the pension facilitation cell, to issue pension to retirees on the date of their retirement, now this practice is about come to permanent end. He said that on the submission of pension case on the “pensioners’ desk” at the main reception, the pension book would be delivered to the pensioners through same window within couple of hours. He also announced that one window operation cell is also being established for retirees to collect their General Provident (GP) fund claim shortly. He also informed that the Accountant General Islamabad and he himself using the practice of conducting open katcheries to get feedback from the employees and also to resolve their problems, if any. The D.C.O. Hyderabad Aftab Ahmed Khatri while addressing the briefing said that the improvement in delivery services would not only improve the trust and credibility of District Accounts Offices but also to encourage and give incentive to government employees. He assured full cooperation with the District Accounts Office Hyderabad in providing complete data of anticipated retirees in advance and also any other assistance needed to the District Accounts Office in finalization of pension cases. He said that to provide pension to the retirees on the date of their retirement was the duty but it was not below the worship. He lauded the efforts of A.G. Sindh and his team for selecting Hyderabad for having this efficient system and also congratulated him for introducing this unique system in Pakistan. S.M. Arif and A. B. Jatoi from District Accounts Office Hyderabad also spoke this occasion. Later, Eijaz Pirzada A.G. Sindh being host presented Sindhi traditional gift of Topi and Ajrak to the visiting gusts.