He said senior citizens are generally neglected in Pakistan due to lack of proper social security cover including adequate healthcare facilities, but the government, as well as society is not serious to resolve issues of our ageing population.
On the occasion of the International Day of Older Persons, he asked for constructing old peoples' homes in every part of the country to take care of the older persons who are not being properly cared by their families.
Altaf Shakoor regretted that price hike, joblessness and melt down of economy have hit hard the low income families in whole country.
He said the senior citizens are the most vulnerable section of society due to these negative economic impacts, as they are not earning hands but additional economic burden on their caregivers.
He emphasized the need that we should build a welfare society and it is the main responsibility of the government to take initiatives in this regard.
He said that this day is celebrated in whole world on every first October, but on this day we have nothing particular to celebrate.
Shakoor said in Pakistan citizens do not get any social security cover and the hard hit of this policy are our older persons who are not able to earn but instead need a lot of care and support.
He said developed nations consider their aged citizens as their asset, but they are considered a burden in our society. Altaf Shakoor said on this day we will specially mention the aged and ailing mother of Dr Aafia Siddiqui who have been waiting for a phone call from her detained daughter for three long years.