National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) has so far issued 1, 15,000 Computerized National Identity Cards (CNIC) to persons with disabilities (PWD) enabling them to avail special medical, education and transport facilities.
These cards would help the disabled persons to avail facilities and special incentives announced for them by the government for their empowerment and ensuring a respectable life for them, said an official of the Ministry of Capital Administration and Development Division (CADD) here on Sunday.
Talking to agencies, he said that visually impaired persons were also eligible to appear in five groups of the civil service competitive examinations and according to the rules, a writing assistant would be provided to them. In addition, 15 minutes of extra time would be given to them to complete their paper, he added.
He informed that the government had announced 50 percent concession on train and air fare for PWDs having CNIC, adding that 25 percent fare concession had also been allowed to their attendants.
“Visually impaired persons are also allowed to open accounts in the banks,” he stated.
Special persons were also granted a 10 years upper age relaxation in government jobs, the official said, while adding that two percent job quota for PWDs was not only implementable in the government sector as private organizations were also bound to abide by this law.
He also urged the management of special person’s institutions to immediately issue medical certificate to every new student enrolled in their institutions so that he/she would be able to avail the benefits of this facility.
“There is no need to show sympathy for persons with disabilities and instead they should be provided with equal opportunities to prove their skills and become active and productive members of the country,” the official commented.
He informed that the government had established vocational centres for PWDs throughout the country so that they could learn technical skills and earn a respectable living for themselves.
