President General Pervez Musharraf acknowledging the vital contributions made by the senior citizens has urged the need to give them all possible support and due respect in conformity with the religious, social and cultural traditions.
The President in a message on the International Day of the Elderly Persons extended his heartiest felicitations and best wishes to the senior citizens of the country.
He said "Today we are benefiting from modern amenities of life primarily due to the vital contribution made by the senior citizens in the prime of their youth for establishing a vibrant socio-economic infrastructure."
He urged the public and private sectors, non-government organisations and philanthropists to do all they can to mitigate the hardship of the elderly and to bring about comfort and happiness in their lives.
"The most befitting manner in which we can express our gratitude to the senior citizens is to give them all possible and support and due respect in society in conformity with our religious, social and cultural traditions," the President said.
He also exhorted the youth to benefit from the experience and wisdom of the senior citizens to successfully confront the complex and diverse challenges of life.
"May Allah Almighty be with us in our endeavours, Ameen," the message said.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz has 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.
In a message on the International Day of Elderly Persons, the Prime Minister said, "The secret of success of developed countries, particularly those of the West lies in the fact that they continue to engage senior citizens... this is a lesson that we in Pakistan ought to learn," he added.
He said the government has taken a number of measures for the socio-economic well-being of the 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 and also for the tremendous social and economic development that has taken place in the country over the last half a century."
The Prime Minister said a number of plans and schemes 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.
"The government is fully committed to implementing the provisions of the International Conventions on Elderly Persons," the Prime Minister said.
The Prime Minister also urged the public and private sectors and in particular the Pakistani youth to draw upon the experience, skills and wisdom of senior citizens of the country to help achieve better and more prosperous future for themselves.
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