The Lahore High Court was informed on Friday that 2,340 disabled people were recruited in the provincial and district government departments against posts identified for them.
This statement was made by a Punjab law officer before Justice Mansoor Ali Shah who was hearing a petition filed by Judicial Activism Panel, a public interest litigation firm, challenging non-implementation of employment quota for the disabled and non-allocation of funds for them in the annual budget.
The law officer submitted that 3,765 posts were identified for disabled people in the provincial and district government departments, whereas 3,476 posts had been advertised. He said that recruitment had been completed on 2,340 posts and remaining 1,136 posts would also be filled soon. The law officer apprised the court that out of 2,340 recruited people, 496 were visually-impaired.
He further submitted that 590 visually-impaired people had also been recruited on daily wages even in excess of reserved quota.
To a court query, a federal law officer sought time to submit details on implementation of the quota for the disabled in the federal government departments.
Upon this, the court gave another opportunity to submit details by the next date of hearing. The court, while adjourning the hearing till March 25, directed the provincial law officer to submit district-wise details of recruitment.
Meanwhile, the court again sought reply from the federal and provincial governments on a petition against non-provision of facilities to disabled people in hospitals, public transport and departments’ buildings till March 18.
