PESHAWAR: Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Muhammad Sohail Afridi chaired a high-level meeting on the proposed Ehsaas Buzurg Card, which granted in-principle approval for the issuance of the card to provide senior citizens with free travel on the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system.
The meeting was informed that the initiative would enable citizens aged 60 years and above to travel free of charge on BRT buses. The provincial government would bear the cost of the initiative, estimated at approximately Rs. 935 million annually.
The meeting was further informed that eligible senior citizens would undergo verification through the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA), following which Ehsaas Buzurg Cards would be issued within a period of five months.
To safeguard the integrity of the scheme and prevent misuse, a penalty of Rs. 500 would be imposed on any cardholder found using the card in violation of the prescribed conditions. The initiative is aimed at ensuring 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.
Speaking at the meeting, Chief Minister Muhammad Sohail Afridi said that the Ehsaas Buzurg Card represents a practical manifestation of 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 transportation was an important component of the provincial government’s people-centred welfare agenda.
The Chief Minister directed the relevant authorities to ensure that the issuance of Ehsaas Buzurg Cards and implementation of the free travel facility were carried out through a transparent, efficient and user-friendly mechanism, enabling the maximum number of eligible senior citizens to benefit from the initiative.
Chief Minister Sohail Afridi reaffirmed that the provincial government would continue to pursue effective and sustainable measures aimed at improving public welfare and strengthening social protection for citizens across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026