People wait to board a train at El Sadat metro station in the center of Cairo, Egypt May 13, 2018 (Photo: Reuters)
Egypt's government started on Sunday exempting senior citizens over 70 years old from paying public transportation fares.
The social solidarity ministry had announced on Thursday, on the occasion of World Senior Citizen's Day, that senior citizens over 70 would be exempted from public transportation fares and that those aged 60 to 70 can pay half the usual fare.
The ministry said that the new measure is part of a series of decisions marking World Senior Citizen's Day.
The ministry also announced an increase in the aid provided by the Takaful and Karama programme from EGP 450 to EGP 550 in October for nearly 409,000 citizens aged 65 and above, at a cost of EGP 41 million.
According to a new social insurance and pensions law, pensioners in Egypt are to receive discounts on public transportation, especially those with pensions less than EGP 2,000 a month.
The special discounts also apply for entrance fees at state-owned clubs and museums, as well as for accommodations at public hospitals.
The new social insurance and pensions law was approved by the Egyptian House of Representatives in 2019 and was officially applied in 2020.
Short link: