ISLAMABAD, Dec 7: A bill aimed to resolve different issues faced by senior citizens has been prepared for the federal capital territory.

“The Islamabad Capital Territory Senior Citizens Welfare Bill 2012 has been drafted by the Ministry of Capital Administration and Development prepared (CAD),” says a press release issued by CAD on Friday.

To take input from various stakeholders and finalise the bill for rights of the senior citizens, the National Council of Social Welfare, an ancillary department of CAD, HelpAge International and the Pakistan National Centre on Ageing (PNCA) organised a consultative workshop.

Speaking on the occasion, Additional Secretary Ministry of Capital Administration and Development Abdul Latif Lehgari said he was committed to ensuring the welfare of senior citizens in the capital.

Pakistan Baitul Maal (PBM) managing director Zamurd Khan said the initiative taken by CAD for the welfare of the senior citizenswas appreciable.

He believed that the policy for the welfare of senior citizens reflected a change in national development priorities.

Dr Haider Zaman, the president of Pakistan National Centre on Ageing, added that there was no separate policy for older people so a consensus among all the stakeholders was important for effective legislation.

Pakistan is one of the 15 countries where population of people over 60 years of age is over 10 million. Currently, there are 11.3 million people over 60 in Pakistan, which will be increased to 43.3 million in 2050, making it 15.8 per cent of the totalpopulation.

After its passage, the bill will be implemented only in Islamabad.