ISLAMABAD, Oct 1: The Senior Citizens’ Federation of Pakistan held a meeting to observe the International Day of Older Persons here on Saturday.

The meeting was held at the Pakistan Academy of Sciences in which awards were presented to three old citizens for their services in social welfare, education and highlighting the soft image of Pakistan abroad.

The Senior Citizens Year awards went to Fatima Suraiya Bajia for her services in literature, art and social welfare; and late Qazi Saghirul Haq for founding the Faizul Islam institution, while the Distinguished Citizen Award was received by Syed Mohammad Rafique.

Messages from UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan and national leaders, emphasizing the need to take appropriate steps for the welfare of the elderly, were read out on the occasion.

Addressing the meeting, SCFP President Mehmood Ali said the young generation should work like the custodian of the old people because the latter had established for them platforms from which the youth got honourable position in society.