Federal Constitutional Court Upholds EOBI Pension for Workers With Over 14.5 Years Service

The Federal Constitutional Court has upheld Lahore High Court judgments directing EOBI to grant old-age pension to workers who completed more than 14 and a half years of insurable employment. The January 2026 ruling is important for workers whose service falls slightly short of the standard 15-year pension benchmark.

What did the court decide?

The court dismissed EOBI petitions against earlier Lahore High Court judgments and accepted that a marginal shortfall can be addressed through the statutory rounding-off mechanism provided in the law.

The cases involved insured workers who had completed more than 14.5 years of insurable employment but had not reached a full 15 years when their service period was counted strictly.

Why does 14.5 years matter?

EOBI old-age pension normally depends on meeting the required insurable employment period. The court’s decision clarifies that where the law permits rounding, a worker with a service period beyond the half-year point may be treated differently from someone with a larger shortfall.

This does not mean every worker with less than 15 years automatically qualifies for a monthly pension. Individual contribution records, age and other legal requirements still matter.

How is this different from an old-age grant?

Workers who do not satisfy the pension qualification period may otherwise fall under the rules for an old-age grant, depending on their contribution history. Our guide on how to apply for EOBI pension explains the general claim process and documents pensioners may need.

What should affected workers do?

If your EOBI record shows slightly more than 14.5 years of insurable employment and your pension was refused solely because the record did not reach a full 15 years, the 2026 judgment may be relevant to your case.

Workers should first verify their contribution history. You can also review our EOBI registration and contribution record guide before approaching an EOBI office.

Does the ruling automatically reopen old rejected claims?

The judgment establishes an important legal interpretation, but each claim still depends on its facts and procedural status. A person with an old rejected claim may need to seek review or legal advice instead of assuming payment will start automatically.

Other important EOBI court developments

EOBI has also faced judicial scrutiny over contribution assessments. See our report on the Lahore High Court EOBI contribution assessment ruling for another recent legal development.

Final words

The Federal Constitutional Court ruling strengthens the position of certain insured workers with marginal service shortfalls. However, it should be understood as a legal ruling on rounding-off, not a blanket waiver of EOBI eligibility requirements.

Source: Federal Constitutional Court ruling reported by The Express Tribune, January 10, 2026.