PAKISTAN: President, Prime Minister Seek Respect For Seniors

ISLAMABAD (APP - The Dawn), September 30, 2005: President Gen Pervez Musharraf, in a message on ‘International Day of the Elderly Persons’ has extended his heartiest felicitations and best wishes to senior citizens of the country. He has urged people to give the elderly all possible support and due respect in conformity with our religious, social and cultural traditions. “Today we are benefiting from modern amenities of life primarily due to the vital contribution made by the senior citizens at the prime of their youth for establishing a vibrant socio-economic infrastructure,” he said. Gen Musharraf urged the public and private sectors, non- government organizations and philanthropists to do all they can to do mitigate the hardships of the elderly and to bring about comfort and happiness in their lives. He also exhorted the youth to benefit from the experience and wisdom of senior citizens to successfully confront the complex and diverse challenges of life. Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz in his message said Pakistan needs to emulate the developed countries by engaging senior citizens as teachers, advisers and consultants to accelerate the pace of socio-economic development. He said the government has taken a number of measures for the socio-economic well-being of senior citizens. “We owe a lot to our senior citizens and the elderly for the strenuous efforts they put in for the creation of Pakistan,” he said. The prime minister said a number of plans were being contemplated for providing greater facilities to the senior citizens in accessibility to better medical treatment, old-age economic benefits, mobility and other spheres of life.