Employees Old-Age Benefits Institution (EOBI) is ready to invest its funds in electricity generation projects to enhance its revenues and help ease the energy crisis in the country.

EOBI chairman Zaffar Iqbal Gondal made these remarks while addressing business community at Islamabad Chamber of Commerce & Industry (ICCI). He said that EOBI has also invested in real estate projects, which would increase sources of income for the welfare organization.

He said increase in revenue of the institution would enable it to enhance pension benefits for workers registered with it. Gondal said that previously minimum monthly pension of workers had been fixed at Rs1500, but now it has increased up to Rs3600 per month. He advised EOBI officials to hold regular meetings of Advisory and Dispute Resolution Committees to avoid misconception and resolve the problems faced by the business community of ICCI.

Chairman EOBI said that EOBI is planning to invest in a coal-water-slurry project as coal is available in abundance. He said that EOBI offered to invest Rs15 billion for Bhasha Dam but it could not get through by Wapda.He further elaborated that agreement had been signed with Nadra’s E-sahulat service and Easy Paisa service that would also be offered for quick delivery of pensions to the EOBI pensioners.

He admired the employers’ positive role for paying EOBI contribution due to which EOBI funds had increased to Rs. 253 billion from Rs 149 billion in a short span of time.Speaking on the occasion, Saeed Ahmed Bhatti, acting president ICCIm appreciated the important role of EOBI in poverty alleviation by providing valuable pension benefits to the insured persons.

He said that ICCI should be given representation in EOBI Board of Trustees in order for smooth resolution of problems of business community and insured employees of private sector. The Advisory and Dispute Resolution Committees should be made proactive and more effective for prompt resolution of stakeholders’ disputes, he added.

Acting President ICCI said that EOBI should defer the receipt of contributions from industries and businesses that are in financial straits till the time they come out of crisis situation. He further said that EOBI should come up with technology-based innovative options for quick delivery of pensions to facilitate the pensioners.Bhatti said that there is a need of launching a comprehensive media campaign for educating the masses and the stakeholders about the benefits and facilities offered by EOBI.