PAKISTAN: Fund To Give Assistance To The Aged

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan (The News International), January 26, 2008: Pakistan's Caretaker Minister for Human Rights Ansar Burney said on Friday he would recommend to the government to create a central fund to provide financial assistance to the aged people. He was addressing a seminar organised by the Society of Human Rights and Prisoners Aid (Sharp) with the collaboration of Merlin-HelpAge International here. "We as a society lack in extending respect to parents and elders, and morally bound to acknowledge the services of the aged group of the society who spent their lives for our better future,” Burney said. Civil society should join hands with government to address the ageing issues. The minister invited the organisers to share some constructive recommendations for aged population of Pakistan so that the Ministry of Human Rights could ensure their implementation. He said the government is serious about early enactment of Senior Citizens’ Act.