The workshop titled, "Media Sensitisation on Senior Citizens" organised HelpAge International, non-governmental organisation in collaboration with UNFPA on Saturday. Representatives from print and electronic media were participated in the workshop. The keynote speakers were included representatives of the HelpAge Dr Amjad Khan, Waqar Qureshi and Najeebullah Khan.
The speakers informed that specific law for the rights of citizens was not existed in the country, adding that around 6.8 per cent populations of senior citizens in Pakistan, which can be exceeded at with ratio to 15.8 per cent by 2050. According to a survey conducted globally, they said that around 1.6 million people (6.5 per cent) over age of 60, which can be exceeded to 43.3 million people (15.8 per cent) over in the country by 2050. In 2007, they informed that a bill for rights of senior citizens introduced by parliament was yet be endorsed.
Waqas Qureshi while sharing the statistical data in his presentation of the survey said that senior citizens were largest growing population in the world while Pakistan is the sixth most populous country in the world having 6.8 per cent population of senior citizens; this figure will rise to 15.8 per cent by 2050, he noted. "The senior citizens are being facing enormous problems, like discrimination, health, poverty and protection of rights in absence of specific legislation for them", he observed.
He underlined that the role of media was important for rise the sensitivity of the issue, urged for maximum highlight it. He also demanded of the government to promulgate specific for protection of rights of senior citizens. Qureshi emphasised that a joint effort was obligatory along with all relevant stakeholders, including media and civil society organisations to highlight the problems of old age people in the country.
The participants took part in different interactive activities and group discussions to realise the issues and concerns of senior citizens. Dr Amjad Khan from HelpAge explained the ageing and health and problems being faced by senior citizens. A recent report "Ageing in the 21st Century: A Celebration and a Challenge" released by UNFPA and HelpAge revealed that there will be more over the age of 60 than children under age of 15, by the year of 2050, he informed.