Sir: I am a senior citizen living in Islamabad. After more than 38 years association with the government, I retired honorably reaching the age of superannuation in 2008. For the last three years I am applying to the UN in Pakistan against advertised vacancies. I hold a master’s degree in economics, political science, and defence and strategic studies. I have also attended prestigious training institutions in the country like the Civil Services Academy, the National Institute of Public Administration, the Pakistan Academy for Rural Development and the Police Academy and National Defence College. I have held strategic positions at the federal and provincial level, including the Federal Investigation Agency, the Intelligence Bureau and the Balochistan Police. I also share the UN’s core values: integrity, professionalism and respect for diversity. It is very strange that the human resource department of the UN Pakistan office has not considered my academic qualifications, skills, and commitment while evaluating my applications. Perhaps they prefer vigour and youth to maturity and experience. My own impression is that the UN only pays lip service to the senior citizens. Asghar mahmood Islamabad