This refers to the new budget where the government under monetary pressure seems to have taken a decision to tax senior citizens, widows and pensioners. The budget clearly ignores the plight of the old people, called senior citizens and widows and pensioners and levies tax on the meagre income from their savings held with the National Savings Centers of the government of Pakistan.
The budget has been oblivious to the fact that government is already benefiting from the aforementioned deposits while paying minimum profits to the helpless depositors who are not in physical, mental or environmental conditions to invest somewhere else for fear of losing their lifetime assets and be a liability on the government or their own kith and kin who might not be in a position to support or help them.
Senior citizens and pensioners gave their best in their own capacities to the nation while they could but, now, when they cannot stand the vigours of labour and toil, they have no alternative but to invest their savings in National Saving Schemes.
However, in this budget, this meagre regular livelihood is also being slashed to feed those who are fit enough to earn for themselves. Similar is the case of widows, including those of Shaheeds who are unable to make both ends meet, to properly educate and to bring up their children.
In civilised societies, senior citizens, widows and pensioners are given a special status and are provided liberal facilities/opportunities to live respectable lives. However, in the prevailing environment in Pakistan, they have neither the capacity (with their limited funds) nor the physical or mental ability to invest anywhere else. We, therefore, urge the government to spare the senior citizens, widows and pensioners from harsh taxation.