Recognising the internationally recognised respect, care and dignity of Senior Citizens, our government has very graciously and kindly allowed our senior citizens free entry at musiums, parks etc. I phoned my 80 plus years retired government clerk father and 70 yers old mother congratuling them on this and enquired how many times have availed this free facility. My father told me since 1962 his shifting to Karachi he has never ever been to Museum even once.
My father is 80 plus years. He had twice heart attack. Now he walk only a distance and sits down. He cannot go alone even to nearest market. Now that Government has officially accepted that senior citizens in their retired age do not have sound health, if it really in letter and spirit is keen to give them a real incentive then it may prescribe that once a senior citizen for withdrawing his pension personally attend the Bank or Post Office concerned the next three months his personal presence would not be required. Next months any of his representative could deposit usual pension claim Forms duly signed by senior citizen himself accompanied by a certificate from area councilor certifying the senior citizen “as alive” and the Bank or Post Office credits the pension in his account. After three months he would again be required to persoanlly attend to the Bank once and for next three months again exempt from personal presence and so on. This costs nothing but will give real relief to the concerned senior citizen in his old age. When Federal Ombudsman declared to remove discrimination between old and new pensioners, a high official objected to it and advised government to file a revision appeal. He was right because as per a recen news item he today as retired is drawing Rs. 1.20 lac per month as a rent from his one single property only. He was not the only there are still more present who will, I am sure make wonderful bureaucratic objections to this innocent proposal as such bigs never even in their old age keep enjoying and need not to care waiting for monthly pension.