ISLAMABAD: Standing Committee on Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development was informed on Monday that the members of EOBI Board have not been replaced since 2013 as the institution was still a federal subject due to differences among provinces over its devolution.

The meeting was informed that since the devolution, both the Punjab and Sindh provinces have refused to accept EOBI as a federal subject and that is why its members have not been replaced in all these years.

After the passage of Eighteenth Amendment Act, 2010, EOBI was supposed to be devolved to provinces like many other ministries, departments, institutions.

But it could not be devolved due to differences amongst provinces over its devolution.

The two smaller provinces of Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa opposed its devolution whereas Sindh and Punjab want it transferred to provinces. Now, as EOBI remains a federal subject, the two provinces Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa have accepted it but the other two provinces have refused to accept this decision.

Senator Shahadat Awan raised the issue and asked why the members of EOBI Board have not been changed since 2013. In reply, it was informed that since the devolution, both the Punjab and Sindh provinces have refused to accept EOBI as a federal subject and that is why its members have not been replaced in all these years.

The Committee was briefed by Chairperson Employees Old Age Benefits Institution (EOBI) Naheed Shah Durrani regarding the role and working of the institution.

She apprised that EOBI is a leading institution which provides social security to its citizens to enhance the quality of their lives. She informed that EOBI has received a contribution of Rs180 billion during the last ten years. Moreover, during the financial year 2022-23, EOBI is expected to receive a contribution of Rs38 billion against an approved target of Rs33 billion, she added.

However, despite the importance of EOBI, no attention has been given over strengthening the administrative structure and Board of EOBI, she stated.

The meeting was attended by Senator Manzoor Ahmed Kakar, State Minister for Law and Justice Senator Shahadat Awan, Senator Shaheen Khalid Butt, Senator Muhammad Asad Ali Khan Junejo, Senator Prince Ahmed Omer Ahmed Zai and other senior officers of the relevant departments.

Published in Dawn, May 9th, 2023