THE case of 88-year-old Bibi Begum Qureshi, who is lodged in North Karachi's Edhi shelter for homeless women, illustrates that in this selfish, materialistic age, senior citizens and other weak segments of society are often left to fend for themselves. As reported in this paper, the remarkable woman holds a doctorate from Ireland and has taught at several African universities. It also shows that without a proper social security net, it is not just the poor who are left uncared for. Highly educated and once well-off individuals can also fall on hard times. An official at the Edhi shelter says that seven years ago, there were 500 women at the facility; today there are nearly 1,600. Breakdown of the traditional family structure and economic stress have contributed to the situation. According to the Pakistan Institute of Development Economics, by 2013 there will be over 11 million elderly people — aged 60 and above — in Pakistan. Many will need financial and social support in their old age. As the organisation points out, social security doesn't mean cash assistance alone; it also covers medical care, housing and nutrition.

It is this country's good fortune that people like Abdul Sattar Edhi and others run shelters, operate ambulance fleets and serve free meals to the destitute daily. However, this doesn't absolve the state from its responsibility of looking after the neglected segments of society, including seniors. The government cannot remain complacent, thinking that others are doing its job. The state must take the lead by building old-age homes, orphanages and other facilities which offer help to those in need as well as utilise resources such as Zakat and the Bait-ul-Mal in a much more productive and transparent manner. Society in general also needs to honestly assess how it treats its senior citizens and other vulnerable segments.