KARACHI:
Over the years, many have come to realise that the existing systems within Pakistan are anything but inclusive. They are instead tailored to meet that needs of the high youth population of the country. On the other hand, senior citizens, who constitute approximately 7% of the total population, often remain neglected since access to the city and its resources becomes a battle for them.
But, regardless of the fact that systems remain inconvenient for elders, many have witnessed that administrative offices such as the Regional Passport Offices and NADRA are successful in acknowledging the plight of the elderly. They often bend the rules in order to cater to senior citizens at the earliest, without giving them any trouble or having them to wait in long queues. This shows that no matter how deplorable our society may seem at times, empathy and human emotion somehow find their way into the hearts of citizens. It is this type of care that the country requires in order to eradicate societal evil and bring about a much more inclusive and tolerant society.
Citizens need to be made aware of the right of the elderly and their right to social protection, health and dignity needs to be upheld at all costs. We need to care for those who sacrificed everything so that we could see an independent future.
Muhammad Raza
Islamabad
Published in The Express Tribune, October 2nd, 2020.
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