Peshawar forum set up to amplify older women's voices

Peshawar now has a district-level platform for older residents to raise concerns and shape policy. The Older People Forum, facilitated by the organisation Blue Veins, brings together older women and men from diverse backgrounds, including members of minority communities and persons with disabilities, according to the Associated Press of Pakistan.

The forum was announced on 23 September. Its stated purpose is to enable older people to influence decisions and advocate for policies and services that are more responsive to their needs. The initiative places a strong emphasis on strengthening the leadership and participation of older women, the APP report said.

The forum is designed to give older residents a structured way to contribute to local decision-making in Peshawar. By focusing on older women's leadership, it aims to move beyond consultation and build the capacity of older women to take part directly in policy discussions at the district level.

Blue Veins facilitated the formation of the forum. The report did not specify how the forum will operate, how often it will meet, or how its members were selected. It also did not say whether similar forums are planned for other districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Advocates for aging rights have long argued that older people, particularly women, are underrepresented in policy planning. The new forum is intended to narrow that gap in Peshawar by giving older residents a formal channel to press for health, social protection and other services.

No further details were immediately available.