As Faisalabad currently lacks specific policies on aged care and welfare provision, Dr. Mian Zahid Malik’s objective is to regularly inform the city Nazim on the issues affecting Faisalabad’s elderly population, toward the eventual formulation of suitable policies and programs.

1. The City

Faisalabad is known for its textile and cottage industries. Over the years, urbanization has been on the rise, with more and more people moving to the city due to its better civic facilities and job opportunities. This leads to an increased aging rate, due to better socio-economic conditions and health care system, as well as other services rendered to the population of the city. In 1955, the life expectancy at birth was 41 years, and in 2008 it was 65 years, which clearly indicates the increasing aging trend. 

The total population of the Faisalabad district increased from an estimated 4,046,000 in 1990 to 6,750,275 in 2008. Of this, 41%, or 2,727,379 people, are living in the urban area of the city. The number of people 60 years of age or over in the whole district is 553,522, and the number in the Faisalabad urban area is 199,367, as estimated in 2008. 

Countermeasures taken by the City District Government in collaboration with the Provincial Government to minimize urbanization are multifold. Therefore, indirectly, the City District Government of Faisalabad is trying to decrease the burden of the overall population, including senior citizens, in the urban areas. Steps taken include the development of industrial states at Khurrianwala and the development of a ‘textile city’ at Sahianwala, both outside of the central urban area. Multiple small projects related to industry and housing schemes are underway in small towns, suburbs and rural areas, which are creating a huge number of job opportunities. This will help the City District Government to face fewer problems in the city of Faisalabad regarding housing, sanitation, safe drinking water, food, the health care system and education. However, to further address these and other issues affecting the elderly, such as awareness, funding, financial assistance and lack of recreational facilities, the City District Government needs more budget and precise data on the aging population.

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1. The Proposed Action Plan

As there is currently no priority for the aged in Faisalabad, the Action Plan created by Dr. Mian Zahid Malik proposes to create awareness within the Faisalabad City District Government on the issues affecting the elderly, and the need to provide them with sufficient policies on health and welfare. The ultimate aim is to improve the physical, mental and social health and of older people in the district, irrespective of their gender, caste, religion or status. 

This is especially important in the context of the city’s increasing life expectancy, which means a clear path toward an aging society, without the relevant policies in place for the welfare of the aging population. Such policies would improve their physical, mental, psychological wellbeing and stop their exploitation, but with lacking political commitment and data on the aging population, as of now there are no specific programs / services, and no budget allocation specifically for aging members of society. 

The first step is to inform the City District Nazim, the city’s equivalent of a mayor, on aging population issues. Then, steps can be taken to inform the media and public to raise awareness. Awareness, approval and political commitment are at the center of the plan’s success, and can be sustained by media coverage, as both a record and promotion tool for bi-monthly progress reports of key developments. 

Under the plan, the city’s Health Management Information System (HMIS) will be strengthened, and the latest data on the aged will be gathered to provide a basis for policies to be made. As the aim is to initiate the process of creating plans and policies to improve the welfare of the aged, monthly meetings with the City District Nazim and consistent monitoring of the plan’s progress are both vital for its momentum. 

An informed government and society, as well as substantial demographic data will be the key to leadership development for appropriate measures for the aged to be formulated and delivered.

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Faisalabad Action Plan Time Frame: November 2008 – December 2009

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