Disabled persons in K-P to enjoy basic rights soon

Proposed bill seeks to establish council for people with disabilities

PESHAWAR: The Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) government is carrying out legislation for people with disabilities which promises them privilege, concession, education, training and employment, it has been learnt.

The K-P’s Social Welfare, Special Education and Woman Empowerment Department has prepared a draft bill titled ‘The K-P Persons with Disabilities (Rights, Rehabilitation & Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities) Act, 2017’.

The bill, yet to be vetted by the K-P Law Department, seeks to establish a Provincial Council for Rights, Rehabilitation and Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities in the province. It requires an executive authority to implement this act which will help disabled persons enjoy their fundamental human rights.

The secretary Social Welfare, Special Education and Woman Empowerment Department will serve as the council’s chairman. Besides the chairman, the council will consist of 18 members from various government departments, chambers of commerce and industries and trade unions, including three persons with disabilities and three persons from non-governmental organisations working for people with disabilities.

The council will also serve as watchdog on the working of private and community-based organisations that generate funds in the name of disabled persons. It will formulate policy for rights, rehabilitation and employment for them.

The draft bill also requires the K-P government to take necessary measures to allow such people easy access to public buildings, hospitals, public transport, streets and roads. For the purpose, old buildings and vehicles will be appropriately modified and new buildings and vehicles will be built conforming to the appropriate standards.

The council will develop guidelines on removing barriers and obstacles at buildings and places for disabled persons along with ensuring special seats in all means of transport and allotting exclusive parking spaces at all public places.



It calls for exemption of tax and import duty on priority assistive products, vehicles, materials and components specifically used by them. It also seeks 3.0 per cent quota for them in the K-P Assembly and at least one representative in each council of the local bodies.

Moreover, the draft bill states that in any risky situation or natural disaster the rescue teams – in coordination with disaster management authorities – will move the disabled persons to safer places on a priority basis. In this regard, it directs the council to keep record of disabled persons caught in such a situation and ensure their early rehabilitation.

The draft bill also seeks certain privileges for disabled persons, including 3.0 per cent employment quota in public and private sector, duty-free cars, 50 per cent concession in airplanes and trains fares, 25 per cent concession for their care-giver or attendant, free medical treatment for them and their dependents in provincial government hospitals, 10-year relaxation in upper age limit for government employment in BS 1 to 15 and admission to any higher education institution in both public and private sector, free of charge entry to public museums, libraries, parks and recreational facilities, free education, boarding and lodging and food, and special transport facilities for their mobility within the premises of the college or other institutions.

Furthermore, the bill calls for registration of such people who desire to be employed or rehabilitated by the district social welfare officer.



According to the quota allocated under the bill for the livelihood of disabled people, organisations that do not hire such people will have to pay a sum equivalent to the monthly salaries of the disabled persons. That money will be deposited in the fund established for such people, while those organisations that don’t deposit the salaries will be fined up to Rs10,000 and if they fail to pay the fine then Rs100 per day will be added to the said amount.

Similarly, those who fraudulently avail or attempt to avail any benefit meant for such people will be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend up to two years or with fine which may extend up to Rs200,000 or both.