Senior Citizens demanded the implementation of the “Global Age Friendly Cities (GAFC)” project in Islamabad, one of the 35 cities of the world included in the initiative.
“The Capital Development Authority inked a Memorandum of Understanding a few years back with the World Health Organization for the implementation of this project which was meant to create a friendly physical, as well as social, environment for all, nothing has been done to benefit residents of the city,” an official of National Council of Aging said on Wednesday.
He said the project components to be covered for implementation strictly following the project guide included transportation, housing, social participation, respect and social inclusion, civic participation and employment, communication and information, and community and health service.
The official said that senior citizens are facing a number of problems. There is a lack of shelter home, health and physical activity centres or `rashan cards’ for older persons who have worked hard throughout their life either in the private sector or as daily wagers.
“It is horrible to analyse the circumstances faced by these people who do not have anyone to look after them,” he said.
He further said that ageing is a process, which starts from the very moment one is born, while the younger stages of ageing pass with physical and social changes necessary for development and maturation, additional changes occur after the age of thirty, which reflect a decline in the organ system.
This is called “senescence,” which happens gradually throughout the body, and ultimately reduces the viability of different bodily systems, and increases vulnerability to disease, he added.
Special counters have been established for senior citizens at NADRA, Passport office, Post office, Banks etc. but there are a number of other issues, which should be focussed, he added.
The official said that old people need care, good diets and medicines, whereas mental and physical activity is also quite important to ensuring that they have some healthy activities in their life, but unfortunately, no attention is being paid by the concerned authorities to address issues faced by senior citizens.
One had very high hopes with Pakistan Today to be different from the stereotype tabloids that include "Dawn" and The News International." PT is nearer to India's Times of India and Chinese Global Times. But somehow your moderator is allergic with contents that reflect messages from Qur'an and Sunnah. One can say with emphasis that we're as the whole nation oblivious to God and lack even the basic ethos of our faith in our lives. Who cares about the Government, the Army and even the whole public when they are distanced from our religion to an extent that nothing appears working with us. I am a senior citizen and I don;t need anything from a government that is not even aware of the ethos of democracy. My senior citizen friends you can be "givers" and not seekers from a Government that in the light of the teachings of our Prophet, not only mindless of the hereafter but averse to it. Read this verse 6 of chapter 11 "Hud" that reads: "There is no living creature on earth but Allah 'owes' it its rizq." This i cludes full life support. There is nothing in dearth or scarcity with God for us. When we turn away from Him and seek from others, we make ourselves "humiliated." Little do the power hungry and self-seekers know what lies for them from the graves onward. I am a humble senior citizen in age of 89 and Alhamdolillah I have nothing but thanks-giving to God and having an action plan that by just pledging to Allah Subhanahu that we are turning to You for inspiration and to fulfil our obligations as best as we can with our humble request to let us stand on our own feet with Your grace as promised in Your Book. The sublime Prophet (sawaws) has taught us how to beg from Him.
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