THIS is with reference to the report “Ordinance promulgated to double ministers’ salaries” (May 5), according to which, the salaries of federal ministers have been increased by 160 per cent, from Rs200,000 to Rs519,000 per month. A little earlier, the salary of the members of the National Assembly was increased by 188pc, from Rs180,000 to 519,000 per month. The ordinance to this effect has been enforced after presidential assent.

On the other hand, it was being widely speculated in the media that the Employees Old-Age Benefits Institution (EOBI) pension would increase from the existing Rs10,000 per month to Rs11,500 with retrospective effect from Jan 1, 2025. In the latter half of the last month, the national media gave an impression to EOBI pensioners that the government would make an announcement relating to the suggested increase in pension on May Day. However, they were highly disappointed to know that the pension continued to remain at Rs10,000 and any increase in the amount was uncertain. Incidentally, there has been no increase in the EOBI pension since July, 2023.

Even this seriously meagre increase of 15pc would have provided some degree of comfort to the poor pensioners of EOBI who spent their entire lives serving their respective industries. However, their wait appears to be never-ending.

Name withheld on request
Karachi

Published in Dawn, May 14th, 2025