KARACHI: With the passage of three bills regarding senior citizens’ welfare, abolition of bonded labour, and employees’ old-age benefits, the Sindh Assembly on Friday took lead in steps to turn Pakistan into a welfare state.

Under the Sindh Senior Citizens’ Welfare Bill, senior citizens on the basis of the cards issued by the Senior Citizens’ Council would be entitled to essential services and benefits, including 25 per cent concession in transport fares and other purchases, free funeral and burial services, free treatment of geriatric, medical and health services from government medical institutions, discount at recreation centres.

The council will be headed by the social welfare minister and comprise secretary of the departments concerned as member, two senior citizens from civil society, two members of non-governmental organisations, and one retired judge. The council would take measures for senior citizens’ lodging and economic well-being.

“Any person who refuses to honour the senior citizens’ card or violates any of its provision shall be punished with rigorous imprisonment not less than one year but not more than three years or fine that may extend to Rs30,000 or with both. Besides, if any persons or family member, having the care of senior citizen, if abandoned him shall be punishable with imprisonment of either description for three months or fine.”

While tabling the bill, Senior Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Nisar Ahmad Khuhro said it was the Sindh province that adopted the Pakistan Resolution for the first time that became the basis of the country’s foundation. Then the initiatives such as the 1973 constitution taken under the visionary leadership of Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto further strengthened the country, he said, adding that once again Sindh by introducing the legislation regarding well-being of senior citizens would turn the country into a social welfare state.

Mr Khuhro said the bill was aimed at making provision for recognising the rights of senior citizens by providing them support for their well-being and participation in society with the consideration that senior citizens were society’s integral part.The Sindh Senior Citizens’ Welfare Bill, 2014 and the other bills — Sindh Employees Old-age Benefits (Amendment) Bill, 2016 and The Sindh Bonded Labour System (Abolition) Bill, 2015 — were carried by the assembly with a majority vote.

Muttahida Qaumi Movement lawmaker Syed Khalid Ahmad termed the bill a good work of the Sindh government that was aimed at discharging its duty towards senior citizens by giving practical shape to the social welfare concept.

He later presented a report of the standing committee on social welfare on the bill, which had been referred to it on Dec 10, 2014.

In response to the call attention notice of leader of opposition Khwaja Izharul Hassan, Sindh Minister for Local Government Jam Khan Shoro said all postings and transfers in the local bodies were made on merit and if the honourable member proved a single posting on the basis of recommendations he would quit the ministry.

He also assured the house that he would furnish within a week a list of those KMC officers who had been facing enquiries.

Responding to the call attention notice of MQM lawmaker Saifuddin Khalid, Sindh Health Minister Jam Mehtab Dahar said funds had been released for the restoration and repair of dilapidated health centres in different areas including the one in Orangi Town No 10.

About encroachment issue, Mr Shoro said they had been removed from Hyderi Market, North Nazimabad but they reappeared some time later. He said the deputy commissioners had been instructed to lodge FIRs against those illegally occupying the roads after the anti-encroachment operation.

Charged parking

The minister claimed that charged parking in Karachi had been done away with. The parking on roads had been obstructing traffic flow, he said. A new comprehensive plan was made to use open places for car parking, he added.Home Minister Sohail Anwar Sial in response to the call attention notice of MQM lawmaker Naheed Begum informed the house that he had ordered an inquiry into the killing of one Abid Qureshi reportedly in an encounter with police in Sukkur on April 13. The police officials involved in the shootout were suspended and an enquiry was being conducted by Additional IG Sanaullah Abbasi, the minister said, adding that severe action would be taken against the police officials if the enquiry found the encounter was fake.

In response to the call attention notice of MQM lawmaker Salim Rajput, Mr Shoro said that after the establishment of Sindh Building Control Authority, its rules were applied on all cities and if a high-rise building was built in Sukkur in violation of the building rules, it should be pointed out so that action be initiated against it.

The adjournment motion of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf lawmaker Khurram Sherzaman regarding water shortage was ruled out of order by Speaker Agha Siraj Durrani after it was opposed by the minister arguing that the member had already been informed of the measures being taken by the government to resolve the issue.

The speaker rose for the day at 1.55pm to reassemble on Monday morning.

Published in Dawn, April 30th, 2016