KARACHI: Pakistan’s National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) and the Sindh government have joined hands to introduce a Senior Citizen Card for persons aged 60 and above in the southern province, allowing them to avail better access to health care facilities and travel, NADRA said on Wednesday.
The Sindh High Court had ordered the provincial government in 2021 to issue what was then known as the “Azadi Card” for Sindh’s citizens falling in the age bracket of 60 years and above. As per the Sindh Senior Citizens Welfare Act, 2014, the cards would fulfill elderly citizens’ social security needs and provide them benefits.
NADRA said in its press release that the cards, now named Senior Citizen Card, will provide 3.7 million Sindh residents aged 60 and above enhanced access to health care and travel facilities. The agreement to issue the cards was signed between NADRA and the Sindh Social Welfare Department in a ceremony on Wednesday.
“Social Welfare Department Sindh in collaboration with NADRA has launched the Sindh Senior Citizen Card,” NADRA said.
“The program is set to benefit 3.7 million citizens aged 60 and above, providing improved access to health care, travel facilities, and various civic services.”
Sindh Social Welfare Minister Mir Tarique Ali Khan Talpur highlighted that Sindh was the first province in the country to issue a dedicated Senior Citizen Card.
“This initiative underscores our commitment to honoring and caring for this important segment of society,” he said.
Sindh launches ‘Senior Citizen Card’ to provide better health care, travel facilities for elderly
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Sindh launches ‘Senior Citizen Card’ to provide better health care, travel facilities for elderly
- Persons aged 60 and above entitled to Senior Citizen Card, says national database registration authority
- Sindh first province in country to issue dedicated senior citizen card, says provincial minister for social welfare
Pakistan plans five-year push to boost farm exports, lift yields amid climate strain
- Pakistan’s agriculture sector faces mounting pressure from erratic climate patterns, including floods and heat stress
- PM says Pakistan working to expand value-added agricultural exports through improved processing, certification regimes
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan plans to roll out a five-year strategy to boost agricultural exports while raising crop yields through improved seed quality and farm inputs, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said on Tuesday, as the government moves to shore up food security and foreign exchange earnings.
The push comes as Pakistan’s agriculture sector faces mounting pressure from erratic climate patterns, including floods and heat stress that have damaged crops and disrupted supply chains in recent years, creating food security concerns and weighing on export-oriented industries such as textiles.
The prime minister said it was vital to increase crop yields while chairing a review meeting of the working group on proposals for agricultural sector reforms in the federal capital.
“Agricultural reforms and introducing farmers to internationally practiced methods are the government’s top priority,” he said, according to a statement circulated by his office. “Measures are being taken to increase per-acre yields by ensuring the provision of quality seeds, timely availability of fertilizer at appropriate prices and medicines to prevent crop diseases.”
The statement said Sharif called for measures to increase the production of palm oil along the coastal belt.
“He instructed that a roadmap be prepared to increase agricultural exports over the next five years,” it added.
Sharif said the government was also working on policies to expand value-added agricultural exports through improved processing and certification regimes, aimed at increasing the global market value of Pakistani farm goods and boosting farmer incomes.
Officials briefed the meeting on plans to expand exports of fisheries, fruits and processed agricultural products.
Sharif said Pakistan has significant potential for growth in the agricultural sector, adding that his administration had reached an agreement with China to train 1,000 Pakistani students in modern agricultural technology.
