ISLAMABAD, Nov 23: As many as 7.3 million people in the country are aged over 60 years and the number is increasing day by day.

According to official statistics, the economic, health and other social needs of these people are usually met by their family members in a joint family system. However, the security system is under strain due to migration, urbanization and other factors.

Specific interventions are required so that needs of the aged are met and their rights and dignity not taken away. To do so, information on aging in all its aspects is required which is very scant in Pakistan.

The ministry of women development will implement a project on aging at a cost of $171,000. The project, funded by the UNFPA, will create a foundation for making a sound policy and to develop strategies for fulfilling the needs of older population.

With a view to achieve this objective, the project aims at creating a knowledge base on the socio-economic implications and challenges induced by the aging process, developing greater understanding among policy-makers, and taking stock of the available facilities both in public sector and the civil society.

A policy on aging will be developed. All this will be achieved by a series of activities comprising studies, surveys, researches and policy papers.