Pakistan Plans a Voluntary Pension for Domestic and Informal Workers
A Cabinet committee reviewed a voluntary pension for domestic, farm and self-employed workers on 1 October 2026. What is decided, what is open, and what to do.
Pakistan is working on a voluntary pension scheme for domestic workers, farm workers, self-employed people and other informal workers. A Cabinet committee reviewed the models on 1 October 2026. Nothing has been approved, and there is no start date, contribution rate or sign-up page yet.
Most pension systems here reach only people on a company payroll. A maid, a farm labourer or a rickshaw driver usually gets no pension at all. This scheme is meant to change that, but only the first discussions have been made public.
We read the Press Information Department's release of 1 October 2026, and checked its list of releases up to 7 October for anything newer. We found nothing newer on this scheme.
A Cabinet committee reviewed pension models for informal workers
The Cabinet Committee on Pension Reforms for the Uncovered Labour Force met on 1 October 2026 in Islamabad. Federal Law and Justice Minister Senator Azam Nazeer Tarar chaired it. The "uncovered labour force" means workers outside any pension system today.
Also at the table were the Federal Minister for Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development, Chaudhry Salik Hussain, and Minister of State for Finance and Revenue Bilal Azhar Kayani. Prime Minister's Adviser Haroon Akhtar Khan and officials attended too.
The committee looked at several models for bringing informal and pension-excluded workers into the system. A voluntary scheme was discussed for domestic workers, agricultural workers, self-employed persons and other informal workers.
| Question | What the 1 October release says |
|---|---|
| Who is covered | Domestic workers, agricultural workers, self-employed persons, other informal workers |
| Voluntary or compulsory | A voluntary scheme was discussed |
| Who pays in | Options for employers, employees and self-employed persons were considered |
| How to register | Digital registration was considered |
| Contribution rate, pension amount, start date | Not stated |
EOBI's digital system may be the model
The committee discussed using the Employees' Old-Age Benefits Institution (EOBI) digital system as a model for the new voluntary scheme. EOBI is the existing state pension body for registered private sector workers.
It also discussed digital registration, clear record keeping, and long term financial strength. Those last words matter. A pension promise is only worth something if the fund can still pay in thirty years.
Mr Tarar said every worker should have the right to a dignified and secure retirement, and that pension protection should not stay limited to the formal sector. He said the proposed system would be accessible, financially sustainable and long term, in line with international standards and the principles of the International Labour Organization.
These are goals, not terms. The release gives no figure for what a worker would pay or receive.
What is still undecided
The release leaves out the details a worker would need before signing up. These are the open questions, as we read it.
- How much a worker or employer would pay each month.
- What pension a worker would get, and from what age.
- Whether the state would add money, as some schemes abroad do.
- Which body would run the fund, and where a worker would register.
- When the scheme would start, and whether it needs a new law.
Until those are answered, nobody can offer you a place in this scheme. Be careful of anyone who claims to take sign-ups or fees for it now.
What you can do now if you work informally
If you work for a registered factory, shop or company, you may already be covered by EOBI, even if your job feels informal. Our guide on how to check if you are registered with EOBI shows how to confirm it with your CNIC.
If you are already an EOBI member and nearing retirement, read how to check and claim your EOBI pension. It explains the contribution years needed and the six month limit on back pay.
Domestic workers have some protection already in Punjab. Our guide to domestic worker minimum wage and rights covers the wage and hours rules, and employers can follow the steps to register a domestic worker with police. Neither gives a pension today.
Why this proposal matters
The release does not give a number for how many workers would be covered, and we will not guess one. What it does show is a policy direction: the government is studying an EOBI style, digital, voluntary pension for people outside payroll.
Voluntary schemes tend to work only when sign-up is simple and the money is visible. A worker who earns daily will not lock away cash they may need next week. Whether the design allows small, flexible payments is the real test, and the release says nothing yet.
We will update this page when the Cabinet or the Ministry publishes a draft, a rate or a start date.
Common questions
Is there a new pension scheme for informal workers in Pakistan?
It is proposed, not launched. A Cabinet committee reviewed models on 1 October 2026 and no scheme has been approved.
Who would the voluntary pension scheme cover?
Domestic workers, agricultural workers, self-employed persons and other informal workers, according to the committee release.
How much would a worker have to pay into the scheme?
The release does not say. Options for employers, employees and self-employed people to contribute were only discussed.
Can I register for this pension now?
No. There is no sign-up page or start date. Treat any offer to register you now with caution.
Which existing system could the scheme copy?
The committee discussed using EOBI's digital system as a model for the proposed voluntary scheme.
How we verified this
What we checked, where we read it, and what we could not confirm.
Last checked on 7 October 2026. The committee members, the groups covered, the models and the minister's statements were read in the Press Information Department's press release No. 5 of 1 October 2026. We then read the department's list of releases for 1 to 7 October 2026 and found no later release on this scheme.
About the author
Public Services and Education Journalist
Fajr Riaz is a journalist and content writer at Pakistan Era, based in Lahore. She covers the questions people meet in everyday life in Pakistan: how a public service works, what a change in the rules means, and where to find a reliable answer.
