The National Assembly Standing Committee on Social Welfare and Special Education has recommended special concession in fares to the senior citizens in Pakistan International Airways (PIA) and Railways along with setting up separate counters for them at different service centres.
The committee met on Wednesday with Bushra Rehman in the chair. Minister for Social Welfare and Special Education, Zubaida Jalal along with other committee members were also present.
According to a statement issued here, the committee asked the government to open special counters for the senior citizens in banks, post offices and other customer service centres. The members advocated that the senior citizens should also be provided concessions in utility bills and free medical facilities in the government hospitals.
The committee further considered the Senior Citizens Bill, 2006, in the light of recommendations of sub-committee of the Standing Committee on the Social Welfare and Special Education.
After thorough deliberations, the committee directed the ministries of social welfare and special education and law ministry to prepare a draft bill keeping in view the suggestions made by the members of the committee.
The MNAs, who attended the meeting included Muhammad Tahir Shah, Dr Hajra Tariq Aziz, Khurram Munawar Manj, Akram Masih Gill, Shamim Akhtar, Kaniz Aisha Munawar, Sayeda Farhana Khalid Banoori, Khalida Mohsin Ali Qureshi, Ramesh Lal, Samina Khalid Ghurki, and Maimoona Hashmi. The movers of the bill were MNAs Muhammad Laeeque Khan, Muhammad Hussain Mehanti, Fazale Subhan and Abdus Sattar Afghani.