The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government will provide free Bus Rapid Transit travel to senior citizens aged 60 and above under a new Ehsaas Buzurg Card, approved in principle on Tuesday at a high-level meeting chaired by Chief Minister Sohail Afridi at the CM House.
The provincial government will bear the full cost of the scheme, estimated at approximately Rs935 million annually, officials told the meeting, according to an official statement.
Eligible senior citizens will first be verified through the National Database and Registration Authority, after which Ehsaas Buzurg Cards will be issued within five months. To protect the scheme from misuse, a penalty of Rs500 will be imposed on any cardholder found violating the prescribed conditions.
Officials said the initiative aims to give senior citizens dignified, convenient and cost-free access to public transport, allowing them to move more independently while carrying out daily activities and accessing essential services.
The chief minister directed authorities to implement the card issuance and free travel facility through a transparent, efficient and user-friendly process, so that the maximum number of eligible senior citizens can benefit.
He added that the provincial government would continue pursuing sustainable measures to strengthen social protection and public welfare across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
