ISLAMABAD: The upper house of the Parliament on Monday passed a resolution for establishing shelter houses for senior citizens.
The house also urged the government to take special steps to create awareness among masses through such necessary legislation. However, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Fazl (JUI-F) opposed the move saying that parents should be accommodated by their children, adding that, “We should follow teachings of Islam which disseminates message of love for parents.”
The resolution for new shelter homes was moved by Pakistan Peoples Party Senator Karim Ahmed Khawaja.
Khawaja said that a number of old people are living in the country without shelters and families. He said under the Constitution, it is the responsibility of the government to defend the rights of its citizens, and hence so old people must be given comfortable homes. He added that our religion also supports the concept of social welfare state therefore; shelter houses must be set up for the senior citizens.
Taking part in debate, PPP Senator Saeed Ghani said the programme should be started from the big cities of the country and later to be shifted at the districts’ level. He said according to reports a number of senior citizens are homeless and living on roads.
Meanwhile, Senator Farhatullah Babar said under the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) financial assistance is being provided to the poor masses through different programmes. He said that a BISP unit must be set up to address the issue of shelter houses for the senior citizens. Opposition leader in the house Senator Ishaq Dar said that an independent foundation should be made and government and philanthropists can contribute in it to set up shelter houses for the deserving senior citizens.
Senator Saeeda Iqbal said the government should set up shelter houses because it is the need of the hour. “The government must improve the condition of women shelter houses which already exist in different parts of the country.”
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Had the resolution for shelter homes for the aged been introduced by the Peoples Party Senator Karim Ahmed Khawaja earlier, it could have produced some actual results by now but even coming at this late hour, it at least shows a recognition of the problem and if the issue is kept alive, we could actually see some results in the not-too-distant future. Senator Karim deserves to be congratulated for taking up an imnportant issue, pleading the case of voiceless people by putting up the resolution which has been approved by the Senate.
The reported opposition by by Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Fazl (JUI-F) on the grounds that parents should be accommodated by their children because Islam teaches love of parents seems a bit misplaced because obviously, shelter home managements will not be moving around with their squad, seizing even senior citizens living happily with their families and forcing them to live in shelter homes.
Elsewhere during discussions on this subject, similar sentiments were expressed saying the presence of old peoples homes will be a reflection on the Pakistani society, in that it will create an impression that the people are no longer prepared to look after their elderly parents. However, if the problem exists, and there is absolutely no doubt that it does exist and is only increasing in intensity over time, it would be better to accept facts and deal with the issue instead of sweeping it under the carpet, making a lot of needy people suffer, just to keep the image. No doubt a vast majority of elderly people are well-looked-after by their families, but there are others who definitely need help
I would think that apart from building shelter homes for destitute people, the Senator should also consider senior citizens homes for people with low-to-moderate means, like for people whose children have settled abroad, and who are left behind living in their own own houses, miserable and lonely, scarcely managing to pay the hefty utility bills and meet other expenses. For such people, a room in senior citizens home with common kitchen and other facilities, could prove economical, and a dream-come-true as it would rid them of lot of worries, apart from providing them company. Better still, these senior citizens homes could be built and run on self-finance basis.
Karachi
Senior Citizens should be respected by the Government as well as by the Society.
Shelter House is the first step to begin with. Senior Citizens have more rights in every sphere of life.