DLP Report
PESHAWAR
Rights activists and social development experts on Sunday called for stronger legal protection, improved healthcare and greater social inclusion for senior citizens in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, saying the province’s rapidly growing elderly population requires urgent policy attention.
Speaking at an event marking World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, observed annually on June 15, representatives of human rights, women’s rights and civil society organisations urged the provincial government to strengthen welfare mechanisms and ensure the effective implementation of laws protecting older persons.
The speakers said that of KP’s population of over 40 million, more than 2.85 million people are aged 60 years or above, accounting for 5.13 per cent of the province’s total population. They noted that the increasing elderly population had made healthcare, social security, legal assistance and age-friendly public services major policy priorities.
Chairperson of the KP Commission on the Status of Women Dr Sameera Shams said elderly women were particularly vulnerable to economic insecurity, social isolation, limited mobility and inadequate access to healthcare and social protection. She added that widows and women living in remote areas faced even greater challenges.
National Commission for Human Rights coordinator Rizwanullah Shah said abuse, exploitation and neglect of older persons should be treated as human rights issues rather than merely social concerns.
Human rights activist Qamar Naseem called for the effective implementation of the KP Senior Citizens Act, 2014. He urged the government to operationalise the Senior Citizens Welfare Council, activate the Senior Citizens Welfare Fund, expand age-friendly healthcare facilities and strengthen the social security system to enable elderly citizens to live with dignity, safety and independence.
