LAHORE: A senior officer of the Employees Old Age Benefits Institution (EOBI) has been transferred, allegedly after he caught a junior officer accepting a from a representative of a factory at his office.

EOBI, a federal government department constituted in 1976 by former prime minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, was meant to provide pension-related benefits to the employees of the private sector across the country.

The institution has been marred by controversies and corrupt practices in the past, including a mega real estate investment scandal, for which an ex-chairman and a few top officials were under investigation.

As per sources, in a recent case of alleged corruption, misuse of authority and embezzlement of public money, a deputy director in Sheikhupura region was caught red-handed while accepting a huge amount in cash from the representative of an employer at his (EOBI) office premises for overlooking anomalies in the audit of the contributions made under the EOBI law.

In a video clip, available with the reporter, the deputy director could be seen accepting the bribe in cash.

Dawn has learnt that a complaint was launched with Deputy Director General (Operations) Lahore, Muhammad Farooq Tahir, who, after a preliminary investigation, reported the matter to the acting chairman, EOBI Karachi, Javed Sheikh, for further proceedings.

However, the chairman transferred Mr Tahir instead of conducting a proper investigation into the alleged corruption case, the sources said.

Mr Sheikh, when contacted for comments, says that transfers are an administrative issue and all officers of the EOBI are dedicated employees.

He says that Mr Tahir has been posted against the key post of Adjudicating Authority, a quasi-judicial forum of EOBI.

Published in Dawn, March 29th, 2025