PRESIDENT Asif Ali Zardari, who is known for his people-friendly approach, has called upon the federal and provincial governments, as well as civil society, to prioritize better healthcare, strengthen social security, protect the rights of the elderly, and provide them a friendly and healthy environment. In his message on the occasion of International Day of Older Persons, observed on October 01, he emphasized the need to make Pakistan more inclusive and age-friendly that honours and respects its senior citizens.
The day is observed as per a decision of the UN General Assembly in 1990 to raise awareness of opportunities and challenges faced by ageing populations and to mobilize the wider community to address difficulties faced by older people. It is rightly pointed out that senior citizens are an asset to communities by way of contributing to the local economy, taking community leadership roles, contributing skills, experience and expertise in a variety of ways, volunteering, offering care of grandchildren, taking part in democratic processes, being active community members, caring for others, making and creating, being active consumers and having full, active lives. However, they face numerous age-related difficulties mainly because of governmental and societal neglect. Luckily, the issue is not as serious in Pakistan as in some other countries where older people generally become responsibility of the old age homes where they get necessary facilities but not the family environment. This is mainly because, as pointed out by the President, our religion calls upon us to look after our parents and elderly people with love, compassion and utmost care. But with the passage of time, they feel neglected and discriminated against because of the governmental policies as is evident from the jaundiced attitude towards pensioners and lack of social security for senior citizens despite the fact that we repeat the slogan of making Pakistan a true welfare state. According to some estimates, about fifty percent of the rural elders live below the poverty line and most of them don’t have pensions and reliable incomes. Elderly people are prone to diseases and they need preferential diagnostic and treatment facilities, which are non-existent. It is proposed that a comprehensive national law should be enacted detailing facilities and privileges that an older person must receive. They should be issued a senior citizen card, get concessional travel facilities, preferential medical treatment and above all a cash allowance enough to take care of the immediate needs of those who don’t have any income or a family member to take care of.
