ISLAMABAD: Senior citizens on Tuesday demanded the government lower the age limit from 85 to 75 years for pensioners to qualify for the annual 25pc increase in pension.

Commemorating the Senior Citizens Day, the Senior Citizens Foundation of Pakistan held its annual general meeting and urged the government to increase the medical allowance, which remained frozen for the last several years, by at least 25pc.

The meeting was presided over by Dr Abdul Qadeer Khan, president of the foundation.

Secretary General of the foundation H.M. Chohan informed the members that efforts were underway to get the federal and the Punjab governments pass the Senior Citizens Bill.

“Pensioners in the age group of 85 years and above are given a raise of 25pc by the government. However, the number of beneficiaries in this category is negligible. This act of benevolence of the government would have created greater impact and appreciation had it covered and benefitted more pensioners. It would be more appropriate and generous if the age for recipients of the 25pc increase in pension is reduced to 75 years,” he said

He also said the medical allowance introduced by the government with effect from July 1, 2010, was ineffective due to the fact that the prices of medicines had gone up tremendously during the last a few years.

“Senior citizens and pensioners are the worst hit. The current medical allowance is insufficient.

It has remained frozen for a long time. Senior citizens/pensioners demand that the medical allowance should be increased along with increase in pension,” he said.

Dr Qadeer urged the federal government that pensions of retired civil servants should be adequately raised to enable them to combat inflation and the rising cost of medicines.

He also informed the members about his efforts to arrange a permanent space for the foundation.

“The government and the Capital Development Authority (CDA) are unresponsive to our requests for allocation of a plot in Islamabad. The new government is also being approached and it is hoped that this highly useful sector of society will be given proper attention as a token of appreciation of their contribution to the development of the country,” Dr Qadeer said.

The meeting urged the government to pass the Senior Citizens Bill, make efforts to reduce the prices of medicines for retired persons and expedite the payment of group insurance.

Published in Dawn, October 2nd, 2019