Legislation: NA seeks review of bill on rights for disabled

10-12% of total population of Pakistan suffer from disabilities, according to a report


Our Correspondent January 18, 2018
Representational image. PHOTO: REUTERS

ISLAMABAD: The National Assembly on Wednesday referred the Pakistan Rights of Persons with Disability Bill, 2017 to the Standing Committee on Cabinet Secretariat for further review.

The bill, which had been pending with the National Assembly since July 2017, was introduced in the assembly on Tuesday along with 10 other bills.

Though the bill was opposed by some parliamentarians, others including Shaista Parvez Malik, Tahira Aurangzeb and Kishwar Zahra presented the case strongly. It was also strongly supported by Shireen Mazari.

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Executive Director at Special Talent Exchange Program (STEP) Muhammad Atif Sheikh told The Express Tribune that it was a major achievement for all those suffering from various forms of disabilities.

He said that after reviewing the bill, the standing committee would refer it back to the National Assembly and later it would be tabled before the Senate.

“Drafting the bill was a long journey… it aims at providing enabling environment to all persons with disability in Pakistan where they could enjoy their rights like all other citizens of the country,” he said.

Sheikh said according to the World Disability report, “it is estimated that 10-12% of the total population of Pakistan are living with various forms of disabilities, but despite that a majority of them are deprived of their basic right to education, health, employment among others and leading a miserable life”.

He added that in July 2011, Pakistan became the 101st country to ratify the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, but was still struggling in framing legislation to ensure rights of people with disabilities.

Sharing the background, he said a large number of organisations working for the rights and welfare of persons with disabilities (PWDs) from across the country as well as parliamentarians and the World Health Organisation (WHO) started drafting the bill in 2014.

After thorough consultations, the draft was sent to the Ministry of Human Rights for review in 2016 and later to the Women’s Parliamentary Caucus.

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Two parliamentarians – Shaista Pervaiz Malik and Tahira Aurangzeb – were sent on policy exchange programme to the US where they were trained and equipped with significant information about the rights of PWDs, said the STEP official.

Later, when they returned to Pakistan, experts from the Mobility International from the US came to Pakistan and shared their valuable suggestions for further improving the bill. After that, with the support and input of the US embassy and other organisations working for the PWDs, the bill was given final shape.

“Now after three years’ struggle finally the bill has reached its final stages for becoming a law,” said Sheikh. “Now more strength and consistency is needed to make rules of business and effective implementation of this first-ever rights-based legislation for persons with disabilities.”

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