Daily Times

LAHORE: In order to protect and provide due rights to senior citizens, the Chief Minister Punjab’s Strategic Reforms Unit (SRU) is in the process of drafting legislation which would be completed by July 2018.

A draft legislation is being prepared in consultation with the Law, Social Welfare and Baitul Maal departments of Punjab, Daily Times learnt reliably. The key features of the legislation being drafted is to give senior citizens their due rights and to provide them with basic and necessary services and care which is needed in their age.

The establishment of special and appellate tribunals, well equipped old age homes, mechanism for resolving other issues like pension or property transfer would be included in the legislation.

According to the details shared by SRU, the legislation attempts to focus on the provision of best services and facilities to the senior citizens as most of them lack resources and means to a better living. The legislation would also provide the grievance redressal mechanism, in case if there is some misbehavior or misconduct shown towards any senior citizen.

Senior citizens would also be able to file an application for their needs and necessities to the concerned department enforcing this legislation. According to the information provided by SRU special and appellate tribunals will be established for filing of the application to ensure speedy justice in the cases of senior citizens.

SMU Director General Salman Sufi said, “We came across the fact that there are no suitable and well equipped old age homes in Punjab for the abandoned senior citizens and taking it up as our responsibility towards citizens we have included the establishment and maintenance of the old age homes in this legislation. Abandonment and physical abuse of senior citizens is another key issue and the legislation attempts to declare these acts as a punishable offence. Transfer of property under coercion can also be declared voidable under the legislation; provision of senior citizen cards is another feature of the legislation. Further, the legislation will also help in resolving the pension and property transfer issues faced by the senior citizens in Punjab.”

Further Salman Sufi added that senior citizen’s welfare was one of the most neglected areas in public policy and SRU aimed to change that as per the directions of Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif. He said that with this legislation, a comprehensive system would be setup including universal insurance for the elderly along with shelter homes and punishments for those abusing the senior citizens.

“All the senior citizens are respectable for us and we are trying our best to work for their welfare. We are preparing the draft of legislation in consultation with the Law & Social Welfare Departments of Punjab and by July, the drafting will be completed and would be presented in assembly after next elections,” Sufi said.

A retired government school master and a senior citizen Akhtar Rasul commenting on the legislation said that the previous governments in Pakistan tried making efforts for addressing the issues of senior citizens but those plans could not be implemented and no such law was ever thought of in the past.

“It is very much needed that now due attention is given to the rights and needs of old people like us as we are left alone in this age with no facilities to live our lives. I hope that this legislation, once passed, would benefit senior citizens like me. I have heard that in other countries senior citizens have respect and various rights like medical, social security, easy pension delivery and even while travelling in the public transport. I hope that through this legislation we will gain respect and receive services which we need in this part of age. I think concessions and discounts on various services should also be included in this legislation and most of us are unable to meet both ends with small amount of pension we receive. If the legislation is approved, the first place it should be implemented at is our banks dealing with pension as they treat us inhumanly while giving our own pensions. I hope this legislation works,” Akhtar Rasul added.

Published in Daily Times, May 19^th 2018.