Active ageing in Pakistan: challenges and opportunities

Abstract The increasing number of ageing population is a signpost for re-directing the resources to ensure quality of life for elderly thus promoting active ageing. However, the challenges to achieve the goal outweigh the opportunities due to scarcity of resources. Several factors including, brain drain, poverty, lack of knowledge of elderly to protect their rights in association with poor state laws determines the poor quality of life for elderly in Pakistan. Although, the apparent scenario is quite unpleasant yet there are several opportunities such as improved crude birth and death rates, increased awareness about gerontology as a specialty care area and constitutions of Pakistan can be significant to ensure the well being of elderly and overcome the challenges to achieve active ageing in Pakistan. It is important to make best use of opportunities at hand by redirecting the resources to improve the quality of life to promote active ageing in Pakistan