Active ageing in Pakistan: challenges and opportunities

Area of Science:

• Gerontology and Public Health
• Social Sciences

Background:

• The global rise in the aging population necessitates a focus on promoting active ageing and ensuring a high quality of life for the elderly.
• Pakistan faces significant challenges in achieving active ageing due to resource scarcity, brain drain, poverty, and inadequate legal protections for seniors.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify the key challenges and opportunities for promoting active ageing in Pakistan.
• To explore strategies for improving the quality of life for the elderly population in Pakistan.

Main Methods:

• This study is a review and analysis of existing literature and socio-economic factors affecting the elderly in Pakistan.
• Qualitative assessment of policy, legal frameworks, and demographic trends relevant to gerontology in Pakistan.

Main Results:

• Factors such as poverty, brain drain, and weak legal frameworks contribute to a poor quality of life for the elderly in Pakistan.
• Opportunities for improvement include demographic shifts (improved crude birth and death rates), growing awareness of gerontology, and supportive constitutional provisions.

Conclusions:

• Despite challenges, Pakistan has opportunities to enhance the well-being of its elderly population.
• Strategic resource redirection and leveraging existing opportunities are crucial for promoting active ageing and improving the quality of life for seniors in Pakistan.