Sindh Minister for Information and Transport Syed Nasir Hussain Shah has said that the government was taking all out efforts to facilitate disabled persons in the province including implementation of 5 per cent job quota in government institutions while private sector would also be encouraged to provide employment to special persons.
Speaking at a seminar held in connection with International Day of Persons with Disabilities, the information minister said that the government had directed Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA) not to approve construction plans of buildings which did not provide facilities to the disabled persons.
The seminar was jointly organised by the Helping Hands for Relief & Development (HHRD) & Neurology Awareness & Research Foundation (NARF) in connection with International Day of Persons with Disabilities celebrated every year across the globe.
Shah said that Bilawal Bhutto had issued special directives for provision of jobs to special persons not only in the government but also in private sector besides providing them all necessary facilities. Though the directions issued to SBCA were not implemented, the government has decided to take strict action. Disabled persons would also be facilitated in transport, education and health sectors, he assured.
Participants of the seminar urged the governments, specifically Sindh regime, persons with disabilities and their representative organizations, academic institutions and the private sector to work as a “team” to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The Government of Sindh shall comply with the national law i.e. Disabled Persons Employment & Rehabilitation Act & everyone needs to do their part i.e. governments, the private sector, civil society and people.
Neurology Awareness and Research Foundation President Prof Muhammad Wasay said that the number of disabled persons in Pakistan was growing at an alarming rate of 2.65 per cent annually as the estimated 5.30 million population of the country was suffering with disability, children being the prime victims.
“Pakistan’s 43pc of total disabled population comprises children.” He further informed that the disability rate in rural area was 65pc while in urban areas of the country 34pc suffered from disabilities. The 58 per cent men and 42 per cent women suffered from same kind of disability. In Punjab, the victims are 56pc and 28pc in Sindh.
Dr Wasay informed that only 14pc of the disabled persons were the part of workforce, only 10pc have access to rehabilitation and 17pc have access to social and educational support. “Types of disabilities included motor disability (35 pc), multiple (8pc), blind (8 pc), mentally retarded (7 pc), deaf (7 pc), psychiatric (6 pc), and others (35),” he added.
Dr Wasay stressed for the special care of specials persons and informed that the stroke, trauma/ traumatic brain and cord injury, birth related; Meningitis/ infection/ Malaria & Mental health are the main causes of disability.” 25 to 30 percent of cases are curable/preventable”, he noted.
Dr Madiha Latif, Neuro psychologist, Erum Zehra, Occupational therapist, General Secretary Neurology Awareness and Research Foundation Dr Abdul Malik and Syed Ibn-e-Hasan, senior vice president of NBP also spoke on the occasion.