PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government on Tuesday approved the proposed Ehsaas Buzurg Card in principle for senior citizens with free travel on the Bus Rapid Transit buses.
The approval came during a high-level meeting chaired by Chief Minister Sohail Afridi at the CM House.
Officials told the meeting that the initiative would enable citizens aged 60 years and above to travel on BRT buses free of charge, according to an official statement.
They said the provincial government would bear the cost of the initiative, estimated at approximately Rs935 million annually.
The meeting was also informed that eligible senior citizens would undergo verification through the National Database and Registration Authority, following which Ehsaas Buzurg Cards will be issued within a period of five months.
The officials said to safeguard the integrity of the scheme and prevent misuse, a penalty of Rs500 would be imposed on any cardholder found using the card in violation of the prescribed conditions.
They said the initiative was meant to ensure that senior citizens have access to dignified, convenient and cost-free public transport, enabling them to travel with greater ease and independence in carrying out their daily activities and accessing essential services.
CM Afridi said that the Ehsaas Buzurg Card represented a practical manifestation of PTI founder Imran Khan’s vision of a welfare state, with a particular focus on protecting the dignity and well-being of vulnerable segments of society.
He said that providing senior citizens with dignified and accessible transport facilities was an important component of the provincial government’s people-centred welfare agenda.
The chief minister directed authorities to ensure that the issuance of Ehsaas Buzurg Cards and implementation of the free travel facility are carried out through a transparent, efficient and user-friendly mechanism, enabling the maximum number of eligible senior citizens to benefit from the initiative.
He said that the provincial government would continue to pursue effective and sustainable measures aimed at improving public welfare and strengthening social protection for citizens across the province.
Published in Dawn, September 9th, 2026
