ISLAMABAD, Oct 1: The ministry of social welfare is working on a package to provide relief to senior citizens in the country.

This was stated by the adviser to the prime minister on women development, social welfare and special education, Nilofar Bakhtiar, here on Wednesday. The adviser was leading a walk organized by the ministry to mark the International Day of Older Persons.

Ms Bakhtiar said the special package for senior citizens would soon be announced for practical implementation.

Wellbeing of senior citizens is the responsibility of both the public and private sectors, therefore, active collaboration between the stakeholders is a must, she added.

The adviser said under the new package, several facilities like special counters would be offered to senior citizens in both the public and private sector organizations.

She said Prime Minister Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali had personally directed the ministry to prepare a strong and effective policy for senior citizens.

Ms Bakhtiar also invited NGOs and civil society organizations to come forward and play their due role along with the government for the betterment of elderly.

She said the main aim behind organizing this walk was to show the government’s commitment towards the cause of welfare of the elderly in line with social, cultural and religious values.

People from all walks of life participated in the walk, which started from China Chowk and ended in front of the Parliament House. They were also holding placards urging people to respect senior citizens instead of taking them as social responsibility.

In another event organized by the Senior Citizens Foundation of Pakistan (SCF), speakers urged the government to take measures for the uplift of elderly.

The SCF has decided to highlight the services of Mohtarma Fatima Jinnah this year as the government has declared 2003 as the Madar-i-Millat Year.

Speaking on the occasion, senior citizens recalled their memories and explained how Ms Jinnah worked day and night along with her brother for the independence of Pakistan.

Brig Ibrahim (retired), who had the privilege of meeting Ms Jinnah, said she was more disciplined than army personnel and always worked like professionals.

The SCF president and honorary federal minister, Mahmood Ali, said Mohtarma Fatima Jinnah’s leadership qualities helped unite women of the sub-continent who later proved a major force behind the successful Pakistan Movement. Same level of determination and leadership qualities was required under the present circumstances for a prosperous Pakistan, he added.

Brig M.I. Burney (retired), while speaking on the issue of health problems faced by the senior citizens, said they were normally prone to suffer heart diseases, hypertension and increase in cholesterol level.

He said the elderly could live a healthy life by quitting sedentary lifestyle, using vitamin C and E, and walking for half an hour daily.

Later, Mahmood Ali presented the ‘Mohtarma Fatima Jinnah Award’ to Begum Masooda Naqshbandi, who since her college life in 1947 to this date is busy in taking care of the downtrodden community of the country.

The ‘Distinguished Senior Citizen of the Year Award’ was conferred on Prof Wadood Ahmad Jilani for his services in the field of social welfare.