LAHORE: Lahore High Court (LHC) on Tuesday, demanded a report from Pakistan international airlines (PIA) managing director, ministry of defense and federal secretary transport regarding the subsidizing of travel facilities to the handicapped. President Asif Ali Zardari had announced a 50 percent discount in fare for the handicapped in 2009.
The court passed the order on the petition of Afzal Humayyun, which stated that on 30 December 2009 the president of Pakistan speaking on the occasion of International Day for disabled persons had promised that travel fare would be subsidized by 50 percent for the handicapped persons. The petition further alleged that travel fare charged by PIA, Railway and all other public transport institutions was to be subsidized as per the order but no action in compliance with the promise had been taken by the concerned institutions.
The petitioner said that Pakistan Railways has started giving a discount to the handicapped but no other institution is complying with the order.Afzal said the disabled and handicapped are the collective responsibility of the society and the government. Yet they face difficulties in commuting since no ‘special’ arrangements have been made for them, as a result of lack of planning on the part of the government. The petitioner said the disabled face hardships in procuring the basic needs of life, yet the government expects them to be able to compete with other passengers in entering buses, vans, trains and other transport facilities across the country.
