Prime Minister Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain on Wednesday approved a comprehensive relief package for senior citizens to provide basic needs of life on concessional basis and ensure their due respect and honour in the society.
The package approved by Prime Minister on the demand of senior citizens and on the recommendations of Nilofar Bakhtiar, Adviser to Prime Minister on Women, Special Education and Social Welfare include special treatment to these citizens at railway stations, airports, hospitals and banks besides concessional legal facilities.
The Prime Minister in this package said that due to the weak health conditions of the older persons, it was difficult for them to keep standing in long queues and wait for their turn.
He said the package has been prepared in order to save the senior citizens from the awful situation in the hospitals and banks and to provide them special attention.
The Prime Minister Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain said with the implementation of the package, now the senior citizens would be given priority at the railway stations, airports, hospitals and banks.
Now separate windows would be set up for senior citizens at the big railway stations, large hospitals and the main branches of the banks from their existing resources.
In case of small railway stations, hospitals and bank branches, the concerned authorities may be directed to ensure prioritised handling of senior citizens which will not involve an additional financial implications.
The Prime Minister said these measures for the senior citizens would create a sense of respect for them.
With a view to promote the healthy activities amongst the older people, the package has special incentives for them which include free entry to public parks, museum, zoos and public libraries throughout the country.
Regarding traditional virtue of respecting and assisting aged persons, the package also include changes in the syllabi of primary and middle schools to incorporate the concept virtue of respect for elders as a part of moral education. It would elevate the social image of the senior citizens as the children in schools should be taught Islamic principles of respect and care of senior citizens.
The Prime Minister Chaudhry Shujaat while approving the package said that in order to prepare the future generation to assume the responsibility of main care giver to the elderly, the initiative by virtue of respect will play a strategic role for the welfare of the senior citizens without any financial implication for the society.
He said Allama Iqbal Open University will offer distant learning courses through PTV with the objectives to prepare the people for meeting the challenges of the old age and moral education to the society to respect and care the elderly.
Under this package, the courses offered on the issues will mentally and physically prepare the people to get themselves ready for facing this inevitable part of life besides imparting moral education to the society regarding the respect and care of the elderly.
The package also include legal facilitation for the senior citizens and all the courts and concerned departments would be directed to give priority in handling the cases of the senior citizens.
Shujaat said legal facilitation has been announced in view of the fact that the older persons, because of their age factor and weak health could not afford frequent visits to the courts and police stations in connection with judicial proceedings.
The package has proposed that the concerned agencies (courts and police authorities) may be asked to provide legal facilitation by giving priority to handle such cases of aged persons.