EOBI registering mine workers

The Senate was informed on Friday that the registration of the mine workers with the Employees Old-Age Benefits Institution (EOBI) being handled through provincial set-ups, while a committee had been formed register domestic workers across the country.

Speaking on behalf of the Human Resource Development Ministry during the Question Hour, Minister of State for Law Aqeel Malik said that currently more than 11.44 million workers were registered with the EOBI, adding that all of them had been issued the registration cards.

"Although the EOBI website does not update registration in real-time, steps are being taken to ensure automatic online data integration," Malik said. "The number of insured workers has since risen to approximately 11.6 million," he added.

In reply to a question from Ssenator Danesh Kumar, the minister of state said that details regarding insurance entitlements, affiliated companies, hospital access, and posthumous benefits would be furnished in writing. Malik stated that a 15% increase in EOBI pensions had been approved.

To another question from Shahadat Awan, he clarified that the registration of mine workers was being handled through provincial setups. He also said that a special committee constituted on the directives of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif was actively working to register domestic workers across the country.

Senator Masroor Ahsan raised the query regarding EOBI-owned properties. Malik replied that it currently had 49 buildings — 24 in Punjab, 14 in Sindh, five in Islamabad, four in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) and two in Balochistan. He added that 40 buildings were rented spaces for regional and field offices.

However, Ahsan pointed out that the data did not include plots owned by the EOBI. He suggested that the issue should be referred to a relevant Senate committee. Malik said that details regarding EOBI plots would also be submitted shortly.

Responding to Zameer Ghumro's question about EOBI's devolution to the provinces, the minister of state told the house that the matter would be placed before the Council of Common Interests (CCI) and resolved in accordance with constitutional provisions.

Responding to several other queries, the minister of state said that 37 appointments were made in Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis through an 'Office Memorandum' issued by the Finance Division on September 6, 2024.

Senator Abdul Shakoor Khan voiced concerns over the limited representation from Balochistan, Senator Danesh Kumar criticised the absence of quotas reserved for women and persons with disabilities. Malik said that recruitment was made on open merit and local basis that included minority quotas.

Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar said that disadvantaged regions-such as Balochistan, interior Sindh, southern Punjab, and parts of K-P were being prioritised.