May 2026
04May

The Wage Illusion: Pakistan’s Informal Economy and the Crisis of Shared Prosperity

On the first of May, the world does more than commemorate labour; it measures the distance between economic growth and those who actually produce it. The origins of this day lie in the Haymarket Affair in Chicago, where a demand as basic as an eight-hour workday was met with violence, yet ultimately reshaped global labour standards. Nearly 140 years later, that legacy exists alongside a global economy in which, according to the International Labour Organization (ILOSTAT, 2023), over 60%...

May 4, 2026
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March 2026
04Mar

Pakistan’s digital banking users top 127 million amid shift to cashless economy

Pakistani officials told Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday the number of digital banking users in the country had surpassed 127 million, the PM Office said, as the government pushes ahead with efforts to promote a cashless economy. Pakistan has witnessed significant growth in digital transactions in recent years. The country’s central bank said last year that its instant digital payment system, Raast, had processed more than 892 million transactions worth Rs20 trillion ($72 billion) since its launch in 2021. During...

March 4, 2026
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July 2025
17Jul

Pakistan approves 15 pct increase in EOBI pensions

Pakistan's federal cabinet has approved a 15 percent increase in pensions for beneficiaries of the Employees' Old-Age Benefits Institution (EOBI), according to an official statement issued on Wednesday. The decision was made during a cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. The increase, effective from Jan. 1, 2025, will be financed through EOBI's own resources, the statement said. The cabinet also approved the formation of a committee to propose institutional reforms within EOBI and explore options to extend pension coverage...

July 17, 2025
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December 2024
20Dec

Pensioners of Radio Pakistan in Gilgit-Baltistan demand overdue benefits

Last week, a determined group of retired employees from Radio Pakistan marched through the streets of Pakistan-occupied Gilgit-Baltistan (PoGB), voicing their frustrations over delayed retirement benefits and pensions that remain unpaid despite years of service. The demonstrators, a coalition of former staff who dedicated decades of their lives to the national broadcaster, gathered to demand immediate action from the government, shedding light on the financial hardships they currently face. Organised by a committed faction of people who have retired, the lively...

December 20, 2024
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09Dec

Pakistan. Can lower retirement age cut pension bill?

THE country’s federal pension bill currently exceeds Rs1tr, with Rs260bn allocated for civil servants and Rs750bn for armed forces. Its magnitude is as staggering as its growth rate, which is outpacing the increase in revenue, making it unsustainable without holistic reforms. As it stands, the government is spending more on pensions than the cost of running the bureaucracy. Successive governments have tried to implement reforms to cut the pension bill with the most recent proposal being lowering the retirement age by five years from 60...

December 9, 2024
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September 2024
12Sep

Pakistan. Govt notifies major pensions reform

ISLAMABAD: In a major reform in the government's pensions scheme, the finance ministry issued three office memoranda on Tuesday to notify the new criteria on the recommendation of the Pay and Pension Commission 2020. According to the documents available with The Express Tribune, the federal government fixed the period of family pension at 10 years after the death of the retired employee, however, in case of a special child, the family pension would continue for life. The period of special...

September 12, 2024
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July 2024
04Jul

Pakistan. Govt Employees Pension Updates: Government Implements Sweeping Pension Reforms

The Pakistani government has announced major reforms to its pension system, aimed at addressing the rising costs and ensuring long-term sustainability. These changes, effective from July 2024, follow recommendations from the Pay and Pension Commission of 2020 and introduce new regulations to streamline pension payments. Key aspects of the reforms include: Gross Pension Calculation: The gross pension amount will now calculated as 70% of the average salary over the last 24 months of service before retirement, ensuring a fair basis...

July 4, 2024
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02Jul

Pakistani govt ends multiple pensions, limits family payouts amid major reforms

Pakistan's pension system saw major amendments under Pay and Pension Commission of 2020 to deal with future increase in pension costs. The incumbent government implemented new regulations restricting multiple pensions and limiting pension payments to family members to maximum of 10 years. Under latest reforms, the gross pension amount will now be calculated as 70 percent of the average pensionable earnings received during the last 2 years of service before retirement. Finance Division made following key amendments which will be effective from...

July 2, 2024
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May 2024
07May

Pakistan mulls pension reforms as government moves to curtail expenditure ahead of IMF talks

The Pakistan government said on Tuesday it was vital to reform the country’s pension system, including by raising the retirement age, to mitigate expenditure as Islamabad aims to save the system billions of dollars per year, with a committee formed to propose recommendations. The belt tightening moves come as Islamabad — which is facing a balance of payment crisis — is in talks with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to secure a new long-term bailout deal. In the past, Pakistan...

May 7, 2024
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February 2023
27Feb

Pakistan stops salaries, pensions as economic crisis worsens

The cash-strapped Pakistan government has reportedly instructed the Accountant General of Pakistan Revenues (AGPR) to halt the clearing of all bills, including salaries and pensions, of federal ministries and attached departments until further notice. According to The News, the move comes as the country is reeling under economic crisis, which is causing difficulties in operational cost-related releases. However, the exact the reason for the same is not known. The report cited, the salaries and pensions of defence-related institutions have been cleared...

February 27, 2023
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