Govt urged to provide better support to senior citizens
A bill for the well-being and comfort of senior citizens will be submitted to NA soon.
ISLAMABAD:
Unlike developed countries, Pakistan has no welfare schemes to facilitate senior citizens. They end up facing numerous problems.
This was the consensus among people at a national seminar held here on Wednesday.
The participants, comprising government functionaries and rights activists, emphasised on creating a separate department to support senior citizens at provincial and district levels.
The speakers stressed on the fact that senior citizens are a vulnerable group of society and their problems increase multiple times during disasters and emergencies.
Moreover, they are often overlooked during relief activities and distribution of humanitarian aid.
According to a recent report by UNFPA and HelpAge International, Pakistan is among the 15 countries that have over 10 million people above 60 years of age. The report points out that the headcount will increase to 43.3 million by 2050, or 15.8% of the total population.
Riffat Shaheen Qazi, secretary Ministry of Capital Administration and Development Division (CADD), said the state recognises the needs of senior citizens and intends to make institutionalised arrangements. “They are our valuable assets and we must learn from their experiences,” she said.
Qazi said CADD has prepared a draft bill titled “ICT Senior Citizens Welfare Bill 2012” for the well-being, comfort and social security of senior citizens.
The bill will be submitted to the National Assembly soon, she said, adding that special desks will be established at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (Pims) and Polyclinic Hospital to facilitate senior citizens in need of medical care.
The seminar was organised by National Council of Social Welfare, HelpAge International and Pakistan National Centre on Ageing.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 11th, 2012.
Unlike developed countries, Pakistan has no welfare schemes to facilitate senior citizens. They end up facing numerous problems.
This was the consensus among people at a national seminar held here on Wednesday.
The participants, comprising government functionaries and rights activists, emphasised on creating a separate department to support senior citizens at provincial and district levels.
The speakers stressed on the fact that senior citizens are a vulnerable group of society and their problems increase multiple times during disasters and emergencies.
Moreover, they are often overlooked during relief activities and distribution of humanitarian aid.
According to a recent report by UNFPA and HelpAge International, Pakistan is among the 15 countries that have over 10 million people above 60 years of age. The report points out that the headcount will increase to 43.3 million by 2050, or 15.8% of the total population.
Riffat Shaheen Qazi, secretary Ministry of Capital Administration and Development Division (CADD), said the state recognises the needs of senior citizens and intends to make institutionalised arrangements. “They are our valuable assets and we must learn from their experiences,” she said.
Qazi said CADD has prepared a draft bill titled “ICT Senior Citizens Welfare Bill 2012” for the well-being, comfort and social security of senior citizens.
The bill will be submitted to the National Assembly soon, she said, adding that special desks will be established at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (Pims) and Polyclinic Hospital to facilitate senior citizens in need of medical care.
The seminar was organised by National Council of Social Welfare, HelpAge International and Pakistan National Centre on Ageing.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 11th, 2012.