KARACHI: Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah has questioned the non-issuance of driving licenses to deaf people and asked that various countries are issuing licenses to persons with hearing-impairment then why we are not issuing them?
He had directed Chief Secretary Mumtaz Shaikh to seek the opinion from driving license branch and traffic police and make necessary amendments in the law so that the persons with hearing-impairment can be issued driving licenses.
The chief minister, in a letter to the chief secretary, has said that the persons with hearing-impairment form a sizeable number of Pakistani disabled population who are living an active life play an important role in national progress.
Shah said that Article 25 of the Constitution guarantees ‘Equality of Citizens before the law and are entitled of people to equal protection of law with no discrimination on any basis’ while Article 18 guarantees the ‘Freedom of Trade, Business or Profession’.
He added that following the spirit of the Supreme Law of Land, the newly promulgated ‘Sindh Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2018’ also calls for ‘Equality and non-discrimination of ‘Persons with Disabilities’ (Section 3), ‘Ease of access and mobility’ (Section 6) and ‘Public facilities and services’ (Section 2 (v)).
Furthermore, the chief minister added that the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) provides for the right to ‘Equality and non-discrimination for all people with disabilities – including deaf people and requires they have equal protection and benefit under the law.
The letter says that at present, the persons with hearing-impairment are disqualified for the issuance of driving license by the Second Schedule of the Motor Vehicles Ordinance, 1965 (amended from time to time) as reproduced below:
“See section 7(5): Disease and disabilities absolutely disqualifying a person for obtaining a license to drive a motor vehicle. They are Epilepsy, Lunacy, heart disease likely to produce sudden attack of giddiness or fainting; Inability to distinguish with each eye at a distance of twenty five yards in good daylight (with the aid of glasses, if worn) a series of seven letters and figures in white on a black ground of the same size and arrangement as those of the registration mark of a motor car.”
The chief minister said that throughout the world, countries in all major Continents issue driving license to the hearing-impaired persons. They include North America (United States of America, Canada, Mexico), South America (Brazil, Chile, Argentina etc.), European Union (all countries), Australia, Asia & Middle East (India, Japan, New Zealand, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Malaysia, Philippines, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Russia, Uzbekistan etc.), Africa (Kenya, South Africa, Nigeria etc).
Shah said that that the issuance of driving license to hearing-impaired persons would lead to a myriad of socio-economic benefits. He added, first, it would be an implementation of guarantees provided in the of the constitution, ordains of the relevant statute and the declaration in the UNCRPD regarding the equality of the hearing-impaired persons, which would, in turn, make them feel empowered and motivated. Second, the hearing-impaired persons would get the ease of access and mobility, as they would be able to move freely in their own vehicles without being a burden on anyone. Third, the hearing-impaired persons would be able to make a livelihood by getting employed in jobs, which require driving skills such as drivers, transportation of goods, delivery persons, courier services etc.
In view of the above facts, the chief minister has directed the chief secretary that necessary amendment in the Second Schedule of the Motor Vehicles Ordinance, 1965 may be made for issuance of a commercial/private driving license to hearing-impaired persons.
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