ISLAMABAD: Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Overseas Pakis­tanis and Human Resource Development Zulfiqar Bu­­kh­ari on Wednesday vowed to increase the Employees Old-Age Benefits Institution (EOBI) pension by two and a half times within four years.

“Currently, per month Rs6,500 is being given to pensioners but I am determined to increase the amount to Rs15,000 during the term of the current government so that pensioners would get a little breather,” he said while speaking to participants of an EOBI event to celebrate “Pensio­ners Day” at the Pakistan National Council of the Arts.

Mr Bukhari said that just a few months back he had announced 23 per cent increase in pensions due to which the pension was increased to Rs6,500.

“However, still it is a nominal amount and needs to be increased. We will make the EOBI a profitable institution and protect the rights of pensioners,” he said.

Published in Dawn, November 7th, 2019