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OPF introduces pension scheme for expatriates
By Ali Imran
ISLAMABAD—Overseas Pakistanis Foundation (OPF) has launched a
self-contributory pension scheme to facilitate about seven million
Pakistanis working abroad.
The sachems is being managed by Overseas Pakistanis Pension Trust, which
is a subsidiary of OPF.
OPF sources told APP here on Thursday that majority of the overseas
Pakistanis has been working in the Middle East in informal sectors and
do not enjoy any social security cover either in the country of
employment or at home.
“The pension scheme was necessitated to provide them a cover during old
age, serious disability and in case of death,” sources said.
The OPF has asked overseas Pakistanis, to get themselves registered with
the foundation to get membership, which is a must for utilising the
pension scheme.
Sources said that different pension packages have been finalised by the
foundation offering 5, 10 and 15-year plan with option of lump sum and
annual payments.
Minimum contribution has been fixed at Rs.24,000 instalment for the
annual payment plan and Rs.120,000 for the lump sum payment plan.
The OPF pension sachems provides options to the applicants to decide how
much they like to contribute. It has not fixed maximum limit of
contribution for however advises that all contributions are payable in
US dollars at prevailing exchange rate.
However, if the members comes back to Pakistan permanently, he could be
given balance payment in Pakistani rupees.
On maturity of the plan, pension would be paid through the nearest bank
of the subscriber, however, in case of subscriber’s demise, the payment
of pension shall continue to the nominee and then to the children till
the youngest becomes 18 years old, sources added. |