ISLAMABAD, Nov 4: Senior citizens who need to be placed at the pedestal of care and respect can be regarded as a neglected segment of our society for not being provided special facilities and care they deserve.

Nothing can stop the aging process; however, the quality of life of the elderly can be improved by formulating such policies and structure to establish programme which may help in supporting the health and welfare of the aging population.

Traditionally, the age group of a senior citizen is defined as 65 and above. In Pakistan, there are 9.7 million senior citizens — 5.3 million males and 4.4 million females.

Due to country’s strong family system, the aged still enjoy their active status in family matters; however, they relish no special facilities when they have to cope with the world out of their homes.

According to data available with Nadra of seven major cities — Karachi, Lahore, Multan, Rawalpindi, Islamabad, Peshawar and Quetta — as many as 1.362 million people belong to the age group of more than 55 years, whereas 8.745 million were less than 55 years of age.

Out of the total 10.108 million population, 2.376 million belong to the age group in between 41 and 55 years while 1.095 million fall in the age group from 56 to 70 years.

There were as many as 0.313 million population aged 18 years, 2.519 million were in the age group of 19 to 25 years and 3.536 million in between 41 and 55 years.

The old aged people face problems due to unavailability of reserve seats in public vehicles in which there is no facility of subsidised fares for them.

Senior citizens also need separate counters at all public dealing offices so that they avoid standing in long queues.

Old people are at greater risk of developing nutritional deficiencies because of health factors. The need is to set up dietary guidelines about proper food and supplements for them.

There is also a need to subsidise the cost of medical services and providing the senior citizens counselling for their psychological problems so as to make sure that the old age be not the period of despair, isolation and ill health.—APP