ALTHOUGH `Senior Citizen`s Day` is regularly observed in Pakistan, there is hardly anything done for the betterment of elderly people.

However, it is encouraging that the ministry of social welfare and special education is preparing a bill, National Senior Citizen Welfare Bill, to provide facilities to the elderly (Nov 29).

This was stated by Samina Khalid Ghurki, the federal minister for social welfare and special education, during a three-day workshop on `Disaster risk reduction for older people`.

To make the said bill flawless, it was decided to involve all stakeholders and constitute a council of senior citizens.

Being grateful to Ms Ghurki for showing kindness towards senior citizens, it is requested that the following considerations (which are in practice in the UK and several other countries) may kindly be kept in view while finalising the bill, hopefully at an early date.

These are (I) Provision of shelter houses for senior citizens, (II) provision of health service with nursing facilities, (III) concessions in travelling by bus, train and air, especially within Pakistan, (IV) legal service and security, (V) free admission to national museums and galleries; and (VI) provision of pension credits.

DR S. IFTIKHAR AHMED

Karachi