11 July 2004	Sunday	22 Jamadi-ul-Awwal 1425

KARACHI, July 10: A delegation of Kazakhstan Capital Market met with the chairman, Employees Oldage Benefits Institutions, Muhammad Shafi Malik on Saturday.

The visiting delegation comprised Ms Temirbekov Kulpash, Ms Serikbayeva Leila and Ms Turpakpayeva.

Malik briefed the visitors in detail about the structure, mission, working and achievements of the EOBI, with the help of charts and figures.

He pointed out that the EOBI was working hard to eradicate poverty and improve the living standards of old workers and their survivors.

The chairman, EOBI further stated that the EOBI was endeavouring to facilitate stakeholders through a series of reforms including the self- assessment scheme for employers, and self-registration scheme for employees, with the facility of passbook.

He emphasised that in pursuance of its mission, the EOBI was now introducing automation in the networking of regional and zonal offices, and soon a user-friendly system would be made operational to facilitate employers and insured persons.

Malik explained to the delegation that a number of institutions were working at federal and provincial levels in Pakistan for the welfare of workforce of industrial and commercial sectors.

It was pointed out that the EOBI at the federal level was giving financial benefits and pensions in old age and invalidity to workers, and survivors pension to survivors of the deceased employees.

Another organisation - the Workers Welfare Fund (WWF) was also carrying out welfare jobs for workers at the federal level by constructing labour colonies, schools, etc.

While, Malik mentioned that at the provincial level, medical insurance and health facilities were being given to the working community and their families.

He said, at present EOBI was giving pensions to 0.25 million workers and their families, while it had registered more than two million employees and was striving to get more and more people into the ambit of the pension scheme.

Leader of the Kazakhstan delegation thanked Muhammad Shafi Malik for the comprehensive briefing about the institute.

She also explained the social security system and benefits given in Kazakhstan to workers in the public and private sectors.

She said that solidarity system introduced by the former Soviet government had been adopted by the Kazakhstan government, while in the private sector, private pension funds were operated on the basis of employees' contribution.

Representatives of employers and employees from the province of Sindh in the board of trustees, EOBI including Nazim F Haji, Abdul Aziz Abbasi were also present.-APP