Provincial Minister for Population Welfare, Begum Zakia Shahnawaz has said that legislation for the rights of senior citizens is need of the hour.
She expressed these views while addressing a seminar on the topic of Senior Citizen Welfare Bill 2015 held under the aegis of Jaag Welfare Movement and Help Age International at a local hotel here today. Besides Women Members Provincial Assembly, Waqas Ashfaq Qureshi, Abdul Rab Farooqi, Jan Mehboob Younas and Khurshid Zaheer Ahmed also attended the meeting. The Minister said that on the instructions of government, Old People’s Homes will be set up for unattended senior citizens in the districts where all necessities of life will be provided to them free of cost. Begum Shahnawaz said that number of senior citizens is increasing speedily. She said that Pakistan and other developing countries are taking steps for the welfare of senior citizens. She said that a number of countries have made laws for senior citizens and evolved a strategy for next ten years. She said that pension is also being given to poor senior citizens in more than 100 countries. The Minister said that the aim of Senior Citizen Welfare Bill 2015 is to provide best facilities to senior citizens as they are an important part of the society. She said that counters have been set up for free treatment of citizens in the hospitals. She said that besides governments, civil society is also playing an active role for improving the living standard of senior citizens. She said that 47 percent senior male citizens and 24 percent senior female citizens are forced to work and face discriminatory attitude in the society. They are also physically and psychologically tortured, she added.
Begum Zakia Shahnawaz said that opposition and ruling parties should jointly work for the adoption of this bill aimed at welfare of senior citizens.
