Education
Sports
KPK
Over 2m KP senior citizens need protection, dignity & inclusion
STAFF REPORTER
PESHAWAR: Marking World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, leaders from the human rights, women’s rights, and public sectors have emphasized the need for stronger protection, dignity, inclusion, and wellbeing of senior citizens in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Observed annually on 15 June, World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD) was initiated by the International Network for the Prevention of Elder Abuse in 2006 and officially recognized by the United Nations General Assembly in 2011. The day seeks to raise awareness about the abuse, neglect, exploitation, discrimination, and exclusion experienced by older persons and promotes efforts to safeguard their rights and wellbeing. According to data compiled by the Foundation for Ageing and Inclusive Development (FAID), Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has a population of 40,641,120, of which 2,085,727 persons are aged 60 years and above, representing 5.13 percent of the province’s population. Among them, 1,168,984 are older men, 916,723 are older women, and 20 are transgender persons. The figures highlight the growing significance of ageing as a public policy issue and the need for responsive healthcare, social protection, legal safeguards, and age-friendly services. Sumera Shams, Chairperson of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Commission on the Status of Women (KPCSW), highlighted the unique challenges faced by older women.” “Older women often face a double burden of age and gender discrimination, alongside economic insecurity, social isolation, limited mobility, and barriers to healthcare, social protection, and legal support. Widows, women living alone, and those in remote rural areas are particularly vulnerable. Traditional social norms, low literacy levels, inadequate transportation, and limited digital access further restrict their ability to benefit from available services and opportunities. As our population ages, we must strengthen community-based support systems and ensure older women’s needs and voices are reflected in policies and programmes so they can live with dignity, security, and respect,” said Dr. Sumera Shams. Rizwanullah Shah, Coordinator of the National Commission for Human Rights (NCHR), stressed that elder abuse must be recognized and addressed as a human rights issue.”Elder abuse is a human rights issue. Older persons have the right to live free from neglect, exploitation, violence, and discrimination. Strengthening implementation of existing laws and improving access to justice and protection mechanisms must remain a priority,” he stated. Qamar Naseem, Human Rights Activist and Program Manager Blue Veins, highlighted the need for stronger implementation of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Senior Citizens Act, 2014.”Respect for elders must go beyond cultural values and become a public policy priority. More than a decade after the enactment of the KP Senior Citizens Act, important implementation gaps remain. Older persons deserve accessible services, stronger protections, and institutions that actively safeguard their rights and dignity,” he said. The leaders stressed that with more than two million senior citizens living in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, ageing must be recognized as a growing public policy priority. They highlighted the importance of fully implementing the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Senior Citizens Act, reconstituting the Senior Citizens Welfare Council, strengthening age-friendly healthcare services, and enhancing welfare and protection mechanisms for older persons, particularly older women.
National
‘Clinically stable’: Imran Khan receives fifth eye injection during follow-up at Pims
STAFF REPORTER
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan was brought to the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (Pims) on Monday for a scheduled followup eye treatment, where doctors administered his fifth intravitreal injection after medical examinations indicated clinical improvement in his condition. According to a statement issued by the Pims administration, the 74-year-old politician — who is currently incarcerated at Rawalpindi’s Adiala jail — underwent the procedure as part of ongoing treatment for an eye condition that has required a series of intravitreal injections. Hospital officials said ophthalmologists examined the ousted prime minister before the procedure and found him “clinically stable”. “[Imran’s] optical coherence tomography was performed, which showed clinical improvement,” the statement added. Pims officials said the procedure was performed under microscopic guidance by specialist surgeons and was completed as a day-care intervention without complications. “During the course of his stay, he remained vitally stable before, during and after the procedure and was discharged along with instructions for further care and follow-up advice and documents,” it added. The latest procedure marks the fifth intravitreal injection administered to Imran Khan as part of his ongoing ophthalmic treatment. He was earlier shifted to the hospital from Adiala jail on April 28, when he received the fourth dose following a comprehensive examination. While PIMS did not disclose the exact diagnosis or medication used, intravitreal injections are commonly employed in the management of retinal diseases, including diabetic eye disease, retinal vein occlusion and age-related macular degeneration. Officials did not indicate when the next follow-up examination would take place, but sources familiar with the treatment process said patients receiving serial intravitreal injections are usually monitored periodically to assess response and determine the need for further doses. The jailed PTI founder was diagnosed with central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO), a serious eye condition, according to a report submitted to the Supreme Court by his lawyer and the court’s amicus curiae, Salman Safdar. The condition occurs when the main vein draining blood from the retina becomes blocked and is often associated with cardiovascular risk factors such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes and heart disease.
