On the initiative of recently outgoing Adviser to Prime Minister Ms. Nelofar Bukhtiar, before leaving his Office as PM Chaudhary Shujat Hussain approved a package for senior citizens. The package includes respect to senior citizens, discounted medicines at Government Hospitals etc. The most important thing rightly observed by the Prime Minister was that these elder citizens need such incentives due to “weaker health conditions of the elderly”. What type of special treatment at Banks? Would there now be provided special rest chairs for these senior citizens in Branches? Would they be given special interest rates? Would there be no service charges or withholding tax on their accounts? This is not clear however the paramount thing is that it has been officially realized that in their old age health condition of these senior citizens is not sound.
The fact is such packages have since the rule of General Ziaul Haq been announced but practically nothing happened in the past. The biggest such package with much fan fare was announced by Nawaz Sharif which as usual remained in files only. Rather it was Nawaz Sharif during whose tenure rates of interest on saving schemes meant for these senior citizens were drastically cut. Such schemes mostly remain to announcements and did not shape in material shape. For example about three years back Gold Silver & Platinum Cards Incentive Scheme was announced for Overseas Pakistanis (OPs). Certain limits for their remittances were fixed. One of the incentive announced was that holders would be treated as VIP and would be invited as Guests in all functions held in Pakistani Missions abroad. Recently when I enquired I was informed that though it was announced but concerned Ministry later did not agree to it. Well there must be some genuine reason for it but OPs were never told of this non materializing of this incentive.
Due to many social reasons many people used to open bank accounts in their single name giving addresses of third parties. On their sudden death the family members never knew if deceased had any private bank account. This is the reason a colossal unclaimed amount is lying with State Bank since decades which should in fact be made public.
In 1990 I raised the issue that there should be no single signature account opened and every account holder should sign a declaration drafted and proposed by me. The Federal Ombudsman treated it as a humanitarian important issue. The then Banking Council and the then Presidents of all 5 commercial Banks tooth and nail resisted my proposal. This resistance was not unexpected for me. The main argument taken by the banking industry was that the implementation would affect confidentiality of account holders. However based on my very logical and sound argument the Federal Ombudsman issued his order accepting my proposal and my drafted & designed Proforma was made mandatory with opening of new accounts. Later this Proforma was inserted into new account opening Forms by all banks. In the ombudsman decision it was also written that with the next six monthly statements the existing account holders would also be sent the Proforma but banks never did so because it was against vested interest. And the ombudsman also did not take note of this part of non compliance. The serious newspapers like daily Jang wrote editorials on this decision praising it. Subsequently I struggled that since Pakistan Post Office, National Savings, ADBP, NDFC etc also operated citizens accounts this decision should also be implemented on them and it was done.
National Savings has introduced a senior citizens pensioners account. All these pensioners are above 60. After 60 life is on bonus. 95% of these retired people in this age suffer one disease or the other. My mother is about 70. For the last 20 years due to continuous sickness her hand writing has become very shaky. Now for the last 3 years her hands are permanent trembling and she cannot even properly hold the pen. She is on the chair and I know how she is taken to National Savings after every 3 or 5 months to sign before the Officer Incharge of the Centre. My father is 80 plus having twice heart attack. He did not open this Pensioners account. He told me “Son just for Rs. 3 lacs deposit I do not want my children after my death to pay frequent visits to courts and spend 50 thousands on advocate fees to get inheritance certificate to claim this Rs. 3 lacs”.
National Savings has not allowed joint account to these old senior citizens. Its argument is if a young son, daughter or a brother of such a senior citizen is allowed joining the account it could be misused. This is an argument of no sense. I am 40 years. If today I give my Rs. 10 lacs to my father and he opens account with it but I enjoy the profits which law of Pakistan can stop me from doing this”. This is totally a bureaucratic ego and usual bureaucratic obstacle. During the last more than one year I have repeatedly written to the PM, the President and even to Federal Ombudsman on this subject but I never got any response from any quarter. Even I wrote to some so called senior citizens forums/ associations but they did not take note of it. I also drew the attention of senior columnists Mr. Irshad Ahmad Haqqani, Mr. Abdul Qadar Hassan, Mr. Hafizur Rehman, Mr. Ikhtisar Baig, Ms. Musarrat Jabeen, Attaul Haq Qassmi etc.
Now that officially it has been admitted that retired persons are not in sound health then it is time we do something for them practically. The senior citizens need such concessions which give them comfort. They do not need “respect at Railway Station”, free entry in a museum etc. How many of our retired persons who today find it difficult even to buy necessary old age medicines go on museum or zoo?
Since now fortunately a very senior able Banker of international repute has taken over as the Prime Minister it is hoped he would appreciate the issue through banking point of view and would be kind in taking practical action in this direction.