Eevery effort should be made to take all appropriate measures to eliminate discrimination on the basis of disabilities
LAHORE: The Punjab government’s initiative to increase the disabled quota for employment from two per cent to three per cent in provincial government departments and district governments in the province is a great landmark in the struggle to reframe the needs and concerns of persons with disabilities (PWDs). It is a welcome step as PWDs require societal protection. For this purpose, the Social Welfare and Baitul Maal Departments have been entrusted the task to implement the increased disabled quota and employees of these departments are working hard to give disabled people their due rights in a transparent way. Moreover, for the rehabilitation of PWDs, the Punjab government has taken many other initiatives, which include waiving of tuition fees, hostel fees and other charges, reservation of one seat in higher studies and access to banking services.
It will not be out of place to mention here that the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities promotes, protects and ensures the full and equal availability of all human rights and fundamental civil freedoms to all PWDs and promotes respect for their inherent dignity. Therefore, every effort should be made to take all appropriate measures to eliminate discrimination on the basis of disabilities and such persons must be given their due rights and shares so that they can contribute towards the development of the country in an active manner.
Syed Ali Qasim
Published in The Express Tribune, November 13th, 2015.
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