Villager from Thatta still going strong at 91

Qamaruddin Chato attributes his longevity to whole foods and frequent physical activity

Exemplary fitness, along with the desire to live a healthy life and become a role model for the youth has kept Qamaruddin Chato of district Thatta vigilant even at the age of 91.

Chato, who belongs to Muhammad Abad village of Taluka Mirpursakro in district Thatta, is known as the fittest person in his locality and is still able to perform all his tasks efficiently without difficulty and support of anyone.

Born in Muhammad Abad Village in 1931, Chato has set an example of living a healthy life at an age where the hope of mere survival dies.

“Life and death are in the hands of God Almighty but I have tried to live it in a better way and with my own style,” says Chato. The 91-year-old believes that man is like a machine and his fitness is in his own hands.

Chato claims that the secret of his health is constant physical work and stress-free life. “I have been through many ups and downs in my life, but never allowed the hardships to dominate me. A firm belief in the Creator made my journey easy and comfortable,” he says.

He rides bicycles, milks cows, works in the farmland, and travels long distances by foot at the age of 91 without relying on anyone for support. When asked about his hobbies, he said that cycling and riding bull carts were his favorite hobbies since his teenage years.

Elaborating further about the secret of his good health, Chato said, “In our times, we used pure food, milk, butter, and ghee; worked in fields and traveled long distances. Fertilizer and pesticides were not used and we used grain produced from rain-fed crops.”

He said that when the pandemic (COVID-19) was at its peak, his sons urged him to remain indoors but he continued his routine work. “Many people in my age group met their Creator during the pandemic, but I luckily survived,” says Chato while bursting into laughter.

“I faced two major tragedies in my life that caused a massive emotional setback to me but I recovered from it with the passage of time,” he reveals.

Chato’s grandson Noman says that they have always tried to keep their grandfather happy and away from a depressing atmosphere.

In his message to the young generation, Chato says, “The youth of this generation must eliminate the element of frustration from their lives for a prolonged survival.”