WHAT IS THE IMPORTANCE senior citizens? There are many reasons why our senior citizens are so important.

To list a few; they are a source of knowledge, together they have more knowledge about their lifetime than any computer could ever tell you. They are also important because if it weren't for them... there wouldn't be a generation after them... and if there wasn't a generation after them... there wouldn't be a you. We need to look after these people. Please join us as we support them! : Senior citizens are those who have crossed their majority of life path. Their reference itself indicates that they are senior in most of the respects in life. That means they are seniors in experience, tolerance, thinking, analyzing, visualizing, understanding, predicting, judging, loving, giving, caring, convincing, problem solving, guiding, meditating, talking, forecasting and many more apart from just Seniority in age.

Purpose of our discussion/ presentation: Following are the aims and objectives of our compaign: To create love & understanding amongst all the seniors. To facilitate the members for Medical treatment at concessional rates in Hospitals & Clinic Labs. To help & assist the members in the solution of their problems. To encourage younger generation to contribute towards national Senior Citizens Fund for their own retirement & persuade our Governments, to create such a fund in public or private sector & give generous grants.

Importance according to islam :

Islam teaches that kindness is never wasted and that what goes around comes around, and that if we pay it forward were sure to get kindness back one day when we most need it. recommended kind care of the parents and instructed us to respect them and take care of them when they become old. The following verses of the Holy Quran reflect these values. Parents in particular enjoy a uniquely special place in Islam, next only to God Himself as stated in the Quran. Thats in gratitude for their effort and sacrifice in bringing up their children. Neglecting them or hurting them in their old age is considered a sin in Islam, and honoring them and caring for them is considered an act of worship And your lord has decreased that you worship none but him. And that you be dutiful to your parents. If one of them or both of them attain old age in your life, say not to them a word of disrespect, or shout at them but address them in term of honor. (1) Al Quran. (Al-israa.sura, verses 23. And lower unto them the wing of submission and humility through mercy and say: My lord: Bestow on them. Your mercy as they did bring me up when I was little kid. (2) Al Quran. (Al-israa.sura, verses 24. The Prophet, peace be upon him, instructed Muslims to start with the elderly when serving food and drink, and giving them the best seats in a gathering in respect to their age. He would always put out his own cloak as a cushion for his foster mother whenever she came visiting, and would give her his complete attention for as long as she wanted. He would listen to her without interruption, offer her the best food and drink in the house and walk her back to her destination at the end of her visit.

SENIOR CITIZENS STATISTICS: There were 55.30 million elderly people in 1991 and 70 million in 1999, This number is projected to be 96 million in 2011, 177 million by 2025 and quadruple over the next 50 years. Again, longevity is up from 54 years in 1980, 60 years in 1991, 65 years in 2001 and is expected to

reach 70 years by 2025. Similarly almost world over senior citizens population is going to raise. REASONS FOR SENIOR CITIZENS POPULATION GROWTH: Because of family planning and small family size, the population of the younger generation is getting reduced. Due to proper medical care, the death rate is getting reduced. So expectation of life is increasing steadily. Joint family system is breaking down. About 30 % of elders live separately. Children are getting settled faraway places in India or in foreign countries. All these will surely increase the hardship of the
ages. After a certain period, there will be more elders, compared to the youngsters in our country. So in the future, smaller

Personalities in Pakistan:
Shaukat Khanum Hospital....One of its own kind, Founded by Imran Khan, aged 60 Dr Abdul Qadeer's invention
Mohammad Abdus Salam, NI, SPk was a Pakistani theoretical physicist who won the Nobel Prize in Physics for his work on the electroweak unification of the electromagnetic and weak forces Imran khan, born November 25, 1952, now of 60 yrs is indisputably the greatest cricketer to emerge from Pakistan, and arguably the world's second-best allrounder after Garry Sobers. He took a mediocre side and transformed them into world-beaters, leading them to the World Cup title in 1992 Our Artist,Calligrapher like Gul Jee,Painters Iqbal Hussain etc,tv artists,Singers,Poets,Authors..

Mr Zaman Khan Edhi Ambulance: World's largest privately owned ambulance charity service.

Problem faced by senior citizens: However, senior citizens in Pakistan are not equipped with the benefits necessary to

lead secure, independent and dignified lives. in the cities, as the familial ties are less strong and individuals value their independence more, older members of family suffer more then the rural areas.. We see professors who are able-bodied but at 60, they are let go by Pakistani universities. Those same professors go abroad and are able to teach there because employment is based on ability, not age Deteriorating health, malnutrition, lack of shelter, fear, depression, senility, isolation, dullness, non-productivity, and financial incapacity are the most common problems that senior citizens all over the world face today. These problems can be grouped into two categories that relate to the physical and mental health and the financial capacity of the senior citizen. 1. Physical and mental health Stability of physical and mental health is a key concern that senior citizens have to contend with as they go through their twilight years. The human body is a system that wears out with long and repetitive use; and quite easily, with neglect and abuse. Aging is a life-cycle stage where the human capacity to think, act, relate, and learn starts to falter and deteriorate. Aging breeds illnesses such as loss of memory, immobility, organ failure, and poor vision. These are critical dysfunctions that could sideline a senior citizen to a lonely and miserable life. 2. Financial capacity Lack or absence of financial capacity creates a stressful life and invites the entry of problems other than physical and mental health issues. For instance, domestic problems in an extended family system can aggravate the problem of a financiallydestitute senior citizen

Suggestions: Financial hardships can be avoided if the senior citizen, during his or her period of economic activity and utility, had deliberately exercised foresight, focus, continuous learning, perseverance, and simplicity, a discipline that consistently upholds the importance of modest needs, savings, productivity, competence, and delivering superior value to people and organizations. The idea here is to build a sustainable wealth of lifetime resources to address the financial requirements of the person across the twilight zone. We should facilitate the members for Medical treatment at concessional rates in Hospitals & Clinic Labs. We shouldarrange discounts on medicines from Chemists & Pharmacists

At every bus and van stop, there should be special mentioned benches for the senior citizens, when all others are standing Separate compartment and seat resevence to seniors in local transport.. concessional rates from Airlines, Railway & intercity Transport companies for senior citizens. We should help & assist the members in the solution of their problems. To arrange special counters for Senior Citizens at all airports , Railway Stations, Banks, Post Offices and other offices where utility bills are paid. To arrange outings of members, at recreational places & Gardens. To encourage younger generation to contribute towards national Senior Citizens Fund for their own retirement & persuade our Governments, to create such a fund in public or private sector & give generous grants. Hobbies enables a retired person to begin a new life, a life of the mind and spirit by getting an interest through a hobby, like gardening, music, painting etc. It will combat the loneliness of living in one room and the unwanted feelings. Above all, it keeps one younger, more alert and by relegating ones ailments to the background, improves health. Social work is one such field. It is so vast and varied that one can always choose doing or participating in something close to ones heart. senior citizens are not a spent force to be discarded, in fact they include people from all walks of life and some with high academic qualifications and experience in different fields, which could still be utilised well. The senior citizens foundation could set up a business centre and offer the services of senior citizens through it in various fields, Senior citizens would thus be gainfully employed, if they like to be still independent we also feel they should be exempted from all taxes if they do not have a job or other source of income beyond their pensions, including taxes on travel, medicine, self-occupied houses, utility bills and other facilities. We are against the issuance of special cards for seniors, since national identity cards are a sufficient identifier of age and the money needed for special cards would be better spent elsewhere. The large elderly population group should be empowered and facilitated as change makers in the country and should be encouraged to vote. The elderly should have a travelling ease, making meeting relatives easier as well as allowing access to medical procedures between the two cities ar two countries.
elderly people should be treated with dignity and respect

ending session: signaturing on the chart with everyone committing to take care of seniors on their own part..