A Participant would be eligible to opt for an Income Payment Plan, at any time, after achieving the retirement age, as referred in clause (c) of Para 1 above. However, the participant cannot opt for the Income Payment Plan if he has already purchased an Approved Annuity Plan from a life insurance company.

When the Participant decides to start taking pension benefits, the participant first decides whether he/she wants to take a tax free cash sum. If the Participant decides to draw tax free cash, the sum of cash is transferred to the respective bank account of the participant and the balance amount breaks down into two parts: i.e. Part-A and Part-B:

Part A: Invests in the approved PIPF Debt Sub-Fund that targets to earn at least inflation, to provide a regular and stable real income (purchasing power) every month throughout drawdown period. A portion of Part-A which will be used to pay current year monthly pensions, will be invested in the approved PIPF Money-Market Sub Fund to further reduce volatility. The portion of the Individual Pension Account to be placed in Part A will be calculated as follows:

For this purpose the insurance company assumes a life-expectancy of 85 years for an individual aged 75 (willing to purchase an annuity).

Each month a payment is withdrawn from this accumulated balance (in PIPF Money Market Fund) according to the following formula:

Two things are evident from this formula:

• This would ensure that Part A reduces to zero by the end of the drawdown period and not before that. At end of the Drawdown period, an Approved Annuity Plan will be purchased with the balance in Part B.
• Monthly Pension will not remain constant throughout, instead is expected to increase each month due to the investment income earned on money market investments.

Monthly Payments under the Income Payment Plan shall be subject to tax at the then tax rates applicable to that individual.

Part B: Invests in the approved PIPF Equity Sub-Fund and PIPF Debt SubFund till termination of Income Payment Plan. At the time of termination of Income Payment Plan, total balance in this Part shall be used to purchase an Approved Annuity Plan from an insurance company of the Participant’s choice.

The portion of accumulated balance to be placed in Part B will be calculated as follows:

The portion of accumulated balance Placed in Part-B will be invested in both the approved PIPF Equity Sub-Fund and PIPF Debt Sub-Fund as per the following table:

Part B — Allocation Scheme

Years to termination of Income Payment Plan are complete years to termination of Income Payment Plan at any date. So 3.1 or 2.9 years would be considered 3 years for the purpose.

This table illustrates percentages set at different durations of Income Payment Plan. However, the risk that Part B over the period invested does not rise in value as much as expected which may lead to lower real monthly annuity compared to the last withdrawn monthly pension from the Income Payment Plan.

Drawing from the Income Payment Plan will commence after completing one month in the Plan. The payment will be made on the 25th day of every month, (or the first working day following that in the event the 25th is a closed day). MCB Funds will issue the instructions to the Trustee to credit the amount to the Participants designated banker.

Monthly payments under the Income Payment Plan shall not be in excess of the amount calculated through formulas mentioned in para (3) above.

Investment in sub-funds will be made in accordance with the Investment Policy prescribed by the Commission from time to time.

Fees and Charges will be charged in line with the provisions of the Trust Deed. The Commission may review the fees specified from time to time and any change shall also be applicable to the Income Payment Plan.

Payment Plans:

Advantages and disadvantages of annuities and Income Payment Plan are as under:-

Advantages of the Conventional Annuities:

• Simple, easy to understand
• Once set up, income is fixed and secure
• The income will never run out, however long an individual is alive
• Available for funds of all sizes
• No ongoing reviews required
• No investment risk: not affected by stock market falls, or economic slumps

Disadvantages of the Conventional Annuities:

• Can be inflexible
• Cannot be changed
• An annuity (without value protection) cannot generally be passed on to the successors as a lump sum
• Current annuity plans do not offer any inflation protection
• Current annuity rates are perceived to be low
• Spouse’s benefits must be set up at outset – so can be wasted on divorce or if spouse dies first
• Not affected by stock market rises

Advantages of the Income Payment Plan (unsecured Pension) before age 75

• An individual does not have to make a one-off decision
• Individual retains investment choice and control
• Can potentially pass the unutilized fund in lump-sum on to the successors (less tax where applicable)
• More flexible
• An individual can plan the income he receives to match his requirements
• Participants achieve their lifestyle through the monthly withdrawals in an increasing pattern attempting to keep up with rising inflation
• Potential for growth and increasing income

Disadvantages of the Income Payment Plan (unsecured Pension) before age 75:

• More complex, an individual may need advice
• Requires regular review

In case of death of a participant before the completion of the Income Payment Plan, all the units of the sub-funds in Part A and Part B to his credit shall be redeemed at the net asset value notified at close of the day of intimation of death and the amount due shall be credited to his Individual Pension A ccount, which shall earn the applicable market rate of interest for such deposits.

The total amount in the Individual Pension Account of the deceased participant shall be divided among the nominated survivors according to the percentages specified in the nomination deed and each of the nominated survivor shall then have the following options, namely :-

1. Withdraw his share of the amount subject to the conditions laid down in the Income Tax Ordinance 2001 (XLIX of 2001);
2. Transfer his share of the amount into his existing or new individual pension account to be opened with the Pension Fund Manager, according to VPS Rules;
3. Use his share of the amount to purchase an annuity on his life from a Life Insurance Company, only if the age of the survivor is fifty- five years or more;
4. Use his share of the amount to purchase a deferred annuity on his life from a Life Insurance Company to commence at age fifty- five years or later.

Nominee

The individual participant may designate and also change the Nominee under the Income Payment Plan. In registering a nomination, the Pension Fund Manager does not accept any responsibility as to its validity, legal effect or meaning.

There is no maximum term for the Income Payment Plan as long as the plan terminates at or before age 75, at which point the individual has to purchase an annuity or withdraw the funds after paying tax on them. Plan must however be of at least one complete year.

The Participants have the options during the tenure of the Income Payment Plan to transfer the remaining balance (Part A & Part B) to another Pension Fund Manager or life insurance company to purchase an Approved Income Payment Plan or an Approved Annuity Plan respectively. No fee will be charged to participants in case of incoming transfers into the Income Payment Plan.

In the event of winding up of the Pakistan Islamic Pension Fund the units standing to the credit of the Participants will be dealt with in the light of VPS Rules, 2005 and Trust Deed.

Should there be any changes in the Income Tax Ordinance or due to any directive given by the Commission under the Voluntary Pension System Rules in respect of the Income Payment Plan, the Pension Fund Manager may vary the benefits and conditions as directed by the Commission. Notice in writing of any such variation shall be sent to last address of the individual recorded by the Pension Fund Manager.

The Income Payment Plan of MCB Funds has been approved by the Commission. However, it must be distinctly understood that such Approval or authorization neither implies official recommendation by the Commission to contribute into the Pension Fund nor does the Commission take any responsibility for the financial soundness of the Income Payment Plan offered by MCB Funds.

• The Sub-Fund(s) target return cannot be guaranteed. The portfolio of the Sub Fund(s)is subject to market fluctuations and risk inherent in all such It should be noted that the value/price of Units of the Sub-Funds can fallas well as rise.
• Income drawdown will reduce the size of accumulated balance and the investment growth may not be sufficient to maintain the level of income. The level of income taken out may need to be reviewed if the balance amount becomes too small.
• Investment performance may be lower than the assumptions made.
• The income received may be lower or higher than the amount that could have been received from an annuity, depending on the performance of investments.
• As annuity rates can change substantially and rapidly, there is no guarantee that at the time of purchasing an annuity, the rates will be favorable.
• The Units of Sub-Funds are not bank deposits and are neither issued by, insured by, or the obligation of the Commission, any Government agency, any of the shareholders or the Pension Fund Manager, or any other bank or financial institution.

Conversely, purchasing a life annuity at retirement is advised in the following circumstances:

• The retiree expects to live longer than the average life expectancy assumed in annuity prices.
• The retiree is of the view that interest rates would fall in future.