Towards inclusion

One step at a time is needed to become an inclusive society

A couple of stories show we are inching more towards inclusion as opposed to the alienation of various groups in the last few decades. In one development, although not initiated exclusively by Pakistan, the World Health Organisation will be providing assistive technologies to persons who are differently-abled or have atypical development. The WHO has partnered with the Pakistan Baitul Maal organisation in a pilot project to deliver 25 technologies out of a suggested 50 by the former across 12 districts. In the second development, the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa government is constructing the Peshawar Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system in cognisance of persons who are differently-abled to make facilities handicap-accessible.

Admittedly, one may not have expected such a progressive move so quickly because as a developing country, we hardly have adequate facilities for those who are typically developed. Both of these indications, therefore, lend credence to the concept that all persons deserve to be considered equally and that infrastructure, which is meant to last lifetimes, should be built in an equitable way. We further note that some prudence was exercised here, which is a frequent criticism of our municipalities.

Implementation and safeguarding will be the usual challenges, especially in the case of assistive technologies, which are expensive. Some clarity on the timeline of the WHO and BRT projects would also prove more convincing. The differently-abled persons are estimated to be under one million, or 0.48% of the population, according to the 2017 census. Taking a closer look at the PBS website, updated on January 28, we learn more policy work remains to be done, apart from economic inclusion. For one, the various categories of ‘disabled persons’ – as the GoP called it – includes outdated terms like crippled, insane and mentally retarded. Surely, however, one step at a time, we will become an inclusive society.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 29^th, 2019.

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