Islamabad: A meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Pension Reforms for the Uncovered Labour Force was convened under the leadership of Federal Minister for Law & Justice, Senator Azam Nazeer Tarar. The session focused on integrating informal and pension-excluded workers into the national pension system.

According to Press Information Department, the assembly included Federal Minister for Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development Chaudhry Salik Hussain, Minister of State for Finance and Revenue Bilal Azhar Kayani, Adviser to the Prime Minister Haroon Akhtar Khan, and other pertinent officials. Discussions revolved around a voluntary pension scheme targeting domestic workers, agricultural workers, self-employed individuals, and other informal labor groups.

The committee explored different models involving participation from employers, employees, and self-employed persons, emphasizing digital registration, transparent record-keeping, and the financial sustainability of the proposed scheme. The digital system of the Employees’ Old-Age Benefits Institution (EOBI) was considered as a potential model for this initiative.

Federal Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar highlighted the necessity of ensuring that pension protection extends beyond the formal sector, advocating for the rights of workers to a dignified retirement. He underscored the importance of incorporating informal workers within the social protection framework, aiming for a pension system that is accessible, sustainable, and aligned with international standards and International Labour Organization (ILO) principles.