ISLAMABAD: Senior citizens on Monday demanded that the Senior Citizen Bill be passed at the earliest by the federal and provincial governments.

The demand was made by the Senior Citizen Foundation of Pakistan which met on Monday to observe Senior Citizen’s Day and for the annual general meeting of the foundation.

Members of the foundation demanded that the age for qualifying for a 25pc increase in pension should be reduced from 85 years to 75.

Age qualifying for 25pc pension increase should be reduced to 75, Senior Citizens Foundation says

They also said that due to the exorbitant rise in medicine prices, medical allowance should be increased by 30pc for pensioners and that this allowance has not been increased the last few years.

The meeting was chaired by the foundation’s president, nuclear scientist Dr AQ Khan. The foundation’s secretary general H.M Chohan briefed members about the challenges and achievements of the foundation.

Dr AQ Khan urged the government to pass the Senior Citizen Bill and said the pensions of retired civil servants should be adequately raised to enable them to combat inflation and the rising costs of medicines. He also donated Rs50,000 to the foundation.

Dr Khan told the meeting about his efforts for finding a permanent place for the foundation and that the government and the Capital Development Authority were unresponsive in regards to the matter of allotting a plot.

He said the new federal government will be approached and hoped senior citizens will be given the proper attention as a token of appreciation for their contributions in the development of the country.

PML-N Senator Chaudhry Tanvir Khan had also moved a bill for the well-being, comfort and dignity of senior citizens living in the Islamabad Capital Territory.

In its statement of objects and reasons, the senator had said: “Customary standards of the Pakistani society lay stress on giving consideration to the elderly. However, the starting trends of nuclear family system have led most elderly of the family unattended, not being taken care of and are particularly left to spend their twilight years all alone. They are often exposed to emotional neglect and to lack of physical and financial support. This clearly reveals that ageing has become major social challenge and there is need to give more attention to the care and protection for the older person.”

The bill proposes to constitute a board to work for the well being of senior citizens and make provisions for setting old age homes. The bill also proposes better medical facilities for senior citizens and ensuring the protection of their life and property.

Published in Dawn, October 10th, 2018