LAHORE: The Lahore High Court directed on Friday the Punjab chief secretary and the finance secretary to submit a plan for the payment of arrears to pensioners.

Hearing hundreds of petitions Kled by pensioners of different department, the court expressed dismay over inordinate delay in the payment of pension.

The chief secretary appeared in the court on a short notice after the Knance secretary failed to satisfy the court on the issue.

Advocate Ashtar Ausaf, on behalf of the chiefsecretary, informed the court that budgetary constraints delayed the payment to pensioners.

He said the Supreme Court had already passed an order to this effect and the government would comply with it in letter and spirit.

He said around Rs24 billion were required to clear the liability of the pensions.

The court adjourned hearing till Dec 10 and directed the chief secretary to submit payment-plan for the pensions`arrears.