Cabinet approves pension increase for EOBI beneficiaries

July17,2025(MLN): The federal cabinet approved a 15% increase in pensions provided by the Employees’ Old-Age Benefits Institution (EOBI), in a meeting chaired by Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif.

The raise, recommended by the Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development, will be funded through the institution’s own resources.

To ensure the long-term efficiency and inclusivity of EOBI, the prime minister directed the formation of a cabinet committee to introduce institutional reforms, as APP reported.

The committee will also consider proposals to expand old-age benefits to informal labor sectors, including domestic workers, agricultural laborers, and other marginalized employment groups.

These initiatives aim to extend protections to workers who have historically been excluded from formal social security coverage.

In addition, the cabinet approved the initiation of legal procedures for the draft of the Sea Carriage Shipping Documents Bill, 2025, as recommended by the Ministry of Maritime Affairs.

On a separate note, the Ministry of National Health Services secured cabinet approval for a five-year extension of the exemption on the import of anti-cancer, cardiac, and life-saving drugs.

These medications, deemed essential for saving lives, will be available exclusively in hospitals and authorized healthcare institutions.

Their sale in the open market will be prohibited, and imports will require prior approval from the relevant licensing authority.

The federal cabinet also endorsed the decisions made during the Cabinet Committee on Legislative Cases meetings held on July 2 and July 3, 2025.

Addressing the cabinet, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif appreciated the efforts of provincial governments, the federal administration, and the authorities in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) and Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) for their arrangements during Muharram.

He acknowledged the role of law enforcement agencies and stakeholders in maintaining peace and security during the religious period.

With the monsoon season underway, the prime minister discussed disaster preparedness and shared details of a recent high-level meeting with the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) and Provincial Disaster Management Authorities (PDMAs).

He lauded NDMA’s efforts in preparing for heavy rainfall across various regions.

Expressing sorrow over the loss of lives, particularly in the tragic incident in Swat, he called for preventive measures and lessons to be drawn to avoid similar future events.

On the economic front, Prime Minister Shehbaz expressed satisfaction with recent improvements in macroeconomic indicators.

Emphasizing a performance-driven approach, he announced that ministries would be evaluated every two months.

He stated clearly that delivery and public service would remain the government's top priorities.

Ministries performing well would be acknowledged, while those underperforming would be asked to explain their shortfalls.

He also praised Federal Minister for Planning Ahsan Iqbal for the effective utilization of development funds by his ministry, noting its role in driving the country’s development agenda forward.

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