Dr. Naseem Ahmad
Executive District Officer (Municipal Services),
Engineering, Local Council Services,
City District Government, Faisalabad,
Pakistan

CONTENTS

1. City Report

2. Action Plan

2.1. Identification of Problems or Issues
2.2. Objectives
2.3. Proposed Actions to Achieve the Objectives/ Key Implementations
2.4. Monitoring
2.5. vision and Goals
2.6. Action Plan Flow Chart

1. City Report

2. Action Plan

1. City Report

Like all Pakistan, Faisalabad is still in the very early stages of the demographic transition. Mortality has fallen, but the total fertility rate is still high. It was 6.3 in 1950 and today is still as high as 5.1. Thus the proportion of young (0-14) is over 40 percent, and the aged are a mere 5 percent of the population. Fertility is declining slowly, so that by 2025 the young will be down to 34 percent of the population, but the aged will not yet begin to rise and will still be at about 5 percent of the population. In effect, Faisalabad’s as Pakistan’s problems of aging lie very much in the future.

Nonetheless, Faisalabad has begun to pay attention to the problem of the aged, and provides some special services. There was recently a celebration of the International Day of Older People. Older people have free access to libraries, have special strips on their identity cards, have proper representation on government bodies, special facilities in government hospitals, and a variety of special benefit packages. A ten year plan, for 2001-11, has been developed with attention to such things as senior citizen clubs, special geriatric wards in the hospitals and other economic benefits. Most of this, however, lies in the future. 

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2. Action Plan

2.1. Identification of Problems or Issues

At present 3.8 % of the population of 158 million are aged in Pakistan.

1. Urban unemployment and poverty
2. Insufficient health services
3. Clean drinking water
4. Urban needs and infrastructure

Pakistan is into the demographic transition, with low mortality. But the fertility decline is not yet complete. Thus the population will continue to grow, and it still has a high proportion of young. Its aging problems are in the future, giving it time to develop appropriate policies and institutions.

2.2. Objectives

1. Independence (Catering for older pesons’ needs and access to basic services and care)
2. Participation
3. Care (Promotion of family and community care, access to health, social and legal services)
4. Dignity (Prevention of exploitation, physical or mental abuse, promotion of fair treatment, being valued independently of economic contribution)

2.3. Proposed Actions to achieve the Objectives/ Key Implementations

The following programmes can be undertaken to address the problems in the city.

1. Public awareness (use of media to create awareness)
2. Meetings with the professors of colleges, universities, NGOs, and colleagues regarding the welfare of the aged people
3. Data collection for aged people
4. Consultation with religious leaders for awareness of aged people

2.4. Monitoring

Monitoring will be made monthly and quarterly. This will include the following steps:

1. Reviewing of progress regarding public awareness
2. Data collection about the aged in the city/district
3. Getting information about kinds of activity which are created by city district government or NGOs for aged people
4. Getting information of family members who are living with aged people
5. How much acitivities which have been carried out so far have done to encourage organization of the aged

2.5. Vision and Goals

To ensure that people will be enabled to age with security and dignity, and continue to participate in their societies as citizens with full rights.

At the same time the rights of older persons should not be incompatible with those of other age groups. The reciprocal relationships between the generations must be nurtured and encouraged.

2.6. Action Plan Flow Chart

Action Plan Flow Chart