Governor Achakzai says proposals will be presented to the cabinet for approval. PHOTO: EXPRESS
QUETTA: Balochistan Governor Muhammad Khan Achakzai announced on Monday that the social welfare department, in consultation with all major stakeholders, will develop strategies for differently-abled people which will soon be presented to the cabinet for its enactment by the provincial assembly.
He made the remarks while chairing a conference on the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD).
Addressing a large number of people, the governor shared his recommendations on the rights of differently-abled persons in the province. The conference was organised by UN High Commissioner for Refugees, Commissioner Afghan Refugees Socio Pakistan in collaboration with the Social Welfare Department Balochistan.
For the first time in the province’s history, the governor, along with secretaries of the concerned department, sat on the same table with individuals with special needs in an effort to thrash out solutions on issues like discrimination and inequality. The UNCRPD consists of 50 articles and keeping the peculiar nature of Balochistan’s circumstances, four articles were selected for the conference: right to accessibility, right to inclusive education, right to employment and right to identity (CNIC and disability certificate).
An official of Socio Pakistan also gave a presentation on strengthening orthopedic, prosthetic and physiotherapy centres and gave an overview on the disability situation in the country.
The official explained that in the post-devolution scenario there is a dire need to develop provincial disability strategies in line with the UNCRPD.
It will guide public policy across relevant sectors and will aim to bring about change in all mainstream services and programmes for improving the lives of people with disability, their families and careers, and to provide leadership for a paradigm shift in attitudinal barriers, he added.
He said that the development of a disability strategy will represent a commitment by all levels of the government, adding that the new approach will assist in addressing the challenges faced by people with disability, both now and in the future.
In his speech the commissioner for Afghan refugees highlighted issues related to disabilities. He called for concrete decisions by the provincial government including making ramps for all the offices situated at the ground floor, special incentives for teachers who are teaching children with disabilities, allocation of seats in governmental educational institutions.
Maria Qureshi and Afshan Afridi also gave their presentation on the role of women with disabilities.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 1st, 2015.
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