KARACHI: Pakistan is 6th most populous country in the world it is one of those 15 countries in the world where number of people of age 60 and above are more than 10 million. Currently the number of older people in Pakistan is around 15 million which is expected to be 45 million by 2050.

Population ageing is one of the key trends of the 21st century which has wide implications for all aspects of society. Around the world two people celebrate their 60th birthday every second. By 2050, first time in the human history, there will be older people than children under 15.

Population ageing is a global phenomenon now and our world is experiencing a demographic transition. Increasing longevity is a triumph of development and one of the humanity’s greatest achievements. However, ageing also presents social, economic and cultural challenges to individuals, families, societies and the global community.

Sindh Rural Support organization organized a media sensitization workshop here in Karachi to raise awareness on needs, issues and rights of older people in the country. A discussion on Sindh Senior Citizens Welfare Act was also carried out. Journalists from print and electronic media of different organizations actively participated in the workshop.

Waqas Ashfaq Qureshi shared that Population Ageing is happening faster in Asia and especially in South Asia. Different countries around the world are developing legislation for protection of rights of Older People. Government of Pakistan has also initiated the legislation process and Sindh assembly approved Sindh Senior Citizen’s welfare Act in 2016. This is first ever legislation for protection of the rights of older people in the province, hence a great achievement of the provincial government. The implementation of this act will support older people to live a happy, active, secure, healthy and dignified people.

Majority of the people in Pakistan are employed with informal and semi-formal sectors including the agriculture and private sector. People employed with government institutions are less than 10 percent of the total employed population and only those employed with the government are entitled for an old age pension leaving out a vast majority of the population without any social protection in older age.

Syed Sajjad Hussain said that Older people rights are clearly articulated in the constitution of the; Article 38-b states that “The state shall provide for all citizens, within the available resources of the country, facilities for work and adequate livelihood with reasonable rest and leisure”. Similarly, 38-C says “the state provides for all persons employed in the services of Pakistan or otherwise, social security by the compulsory social insurance or other means. And article 38-D provides the necessities of life, such as food, clothing, housing, education and medical relief for all such citizens, irrespective of sex, caste, creed, or race as are permanently or temporarily unable to earn their livelihood on account of infirmity, sickness or unemployment.

Maria Soomro highlighted that implementation of Sindh Senior Citizens Welfare act is now a key to a dignified life of older people in the province. If implemented the acts include privileges and services of older people which can support older people to a big extent. These includes: provide free geriatric, medical and health services with free medicines as prescribed by the Respective Medical Officer from Government dispensaries, hospitals, medical centres and 25% concession on all private hospitals,

medical centres and clinics; provide fifty percent concession in fares in road transport and twenty-five percent discount on   purchase of goods, drugs, medicines and essential commodities for his personal use and services provided to him by the manufacturers, retailers, service providers and professionals; provide twenty-five percent discount at recreation centres, cinemas, theatres, visiting places including hotels, motels, resorts,

restaurants, food points and lodging establishments; provide free services for funeral and burial on the death of senior citizen by the local council; provide exemption to the senior citizen from training fees for socio-economic programmes; establish senior citizens lodging establishment, homes for physical, mental, emotional, social and economic well-being of senior citizens.