EOBI assures traders of resolving issues
Employees Old-Age Benefits Institution (EOBI) acting Chairman Dr Javed Shaikh has announced that they will set up a help desk every Monday at premises of the SITE Association of Industry to facilitate its members in the resolution of their issues related to EOBI contribution.
He assured members of the association that its representatives would be included in the board of directors of EOBI when it was reconstituted.
Speaking during a visit to the SITE industrial body, Shaikh said that the EOBI system had been digitalised and every registered unit was given a user ID and password to enter employees' details and generate vouchers.
He mentioned that only 4% of registered units from all over Pakistan were audited by the department, adding that relaxation was also being given in the audit and from the last audit, the next two years' audit would be done.
In response to a query, the EOBI acting chief clarified that government departments did not fall within the EOBI ambit. He said that he was well aware of the employers' issues and suggested taking up matters of fixed EOBI contribution and relaxation for gratuity-paying employers with the federal government.
He revealed that the EOBI fund currently stood at Rs532 billion, which was invested in various schemes. EOBI is paying monthly pensions of Rs5 billion to registered workers. Its collection has improved for the first time in recent months.
He directed the regional head present in the meeting to contact the association first before issuing a notice under Section 81. Earlier, SITE Association of Industry President Ahmed Azeem Alvi said that despite paying highest rates of electricity in Karachi and the lack of proper infrastructure, the industrialists of the city were making efforts to keep their industries running.
Patron-in-Chief Zubair Motiwala said that the industry was passing through difficult times as exports of agro-based products had increased whereas the industrial output declined. "With the highest-ever rates of utilities, it is no longer possible to run industries," he remarked.
"We need to reduce the cost of doing business as a 137% increase has been registered in the cost of utilities."