Sindh govt strengthens laws for disabled

Wahab promises sincere efforts to protect their rights

KARACHI: Adviser to Sindh Chief Minister on Law, Anti-Corruption Establishment & Information Barrister Murtaza Wahab said that it was one of the top priorities of the Sindh government to protect the rights of disabled persons across the province. He said that the government considers the children with disabilities rather "specially-abled" children. Wahab said that the Sindh government was well aware of the rights and measures they needed to take to protect their rights. He said this on Saturday while addressing a seminar held to mark the International Disability Day.

The adviser said that the Sindh government believed in leaving no one behind and that the people with disabilities could contribute towards sustainable development in society.



Wahab added that the Sindh government, in its sincere efforts, passed a significant disability law for the special persons. He said that almost all the incapacities have been included and defined in detail in the Sindh Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities Act.

The adviser also informed that the bill follows a right-based approach stressing on equality of opportunity. Following the Act, the special persons in the province have the right to inclusive education at all levels and in all public and private institutions. The Act also addresses the problem of early identification and prevention of disabilities by ensuring implementation of the Sindh Newborn Screening Act, and increasing the capacity of provincial health workers.

Wahab said that the Sindh government, in its efforts to provide quality health services to the people facing mental as well as physical incapacities, has established trauma centres in various parts of the province and soon these trauma centres will be established in all districts. He also mentioned the functioning and services of the Autism Centre established in Karachi recently by the Sindh government for the wellbeing of specially-abled children. He also mentioned the services of the Institute of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation established at Dow University of Health Sciences in this regard.

The Adviser vowed that no person would be deprived of his personal liberty only on the grounds of disabilities. The Sindh government was taking all the necessary legal and administrative steps, including appropriate changes in the existing laws, to ensure that persons with disabilities enjoy the right of equality guaranteed under the constitution.

Senator Abdul Haseeb Khan appreciated the gesture shown by the Sindh Chief Minister (CM) Syed Murad Ali Shah as he informed the audience that the CM handed over a cheque of Rs25 million to the Karachi Vocational Training Centre for the assistance of special persons. He lauded the efforts of Sindh government in this regard. Other officials of the Sindh government were also present on the occasion.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 10^th, 2018.