T H IS refers to Ishaq Dar`s announcement about the increase in Employees` Old-Age Benefits Institution (EOBI) pension from R s3,600 to Rs5,250 ef fective April last.

I am thankful, but this promise of raising the EOBI pension to Rs6,000 was already promised by the government in 2013 when it came to power and we, the retired employees of private institutions, have been waiting patiently for this announcement.

Instead of making it effective from April 2015, the government should make it effective from 2013 as promised.

The EOBI is the only means of a pensionto retired employees of private institutions.

How can a retired person subsist on a meagre sum of Rs3,600 or Rs5,250? Even a government pensioner gets a decent pension, but the private institution employees, after paying an amount f rom their monthly earnings, are denied a decent return.

This amount cannot even buy their medicines, leave alone basic necessities.

I, on behalf of all EOBI pensioners of private institutions, request the government to review and upgrade this pension at least equivalent to what the government pensioners get.

Qamar Safdar Karachi