CNIC registration camps set up for persons with disabilities

A total of 28 centres established to provide disability registration certificates

KARACHI: Camps will be set up at district levels for the issuance of national identity cards (CNICs) to persons with disabilities, said Syed Qasim Naveed Qamar on Sunday. Qamar, the special assistant to the chief minister on department of empowerment of persons with disabilities (DEPD), said that the Sindh government is taking necessary steps to eradicate the difficulties faced by persons with disabilities in getting their CNICs.

For this purpose, NADRA and DEPD will set up camps in all districts. The second camp of its established will be held on February 18 in Tando Muhammad Khan while the first was set up in Karachi, said Qamar, while presiding at a meeting in his office. Present on the occasion were DEPD Secretary Khalid Chachar, DEPD Deputy Secretary Shahzaib Shaikh, NADRA Director Operations Shankur Ghori and other officials.



According to Qamar, the Sindh government was taking measures to provide relief to persons and children with disabilities. Those present at the meeting were told that as many as 28 centres have been established across the province to provide disability registration certificates to facilitate their easier access to CNICs. In Karachi alone, five such centres have been set up. Besides, the staff posted in these centres is under strict instruction to cooperate with those coming to collect these certificates.

The certificate is an essential requirement for persons with disabilities in order to get a special CNIC, which they need to access benefits such as concession on public transport, employment opportunities on quota and others.

Advertisements in Sindhi, Urdu and English, have been issued in mainstream newspapers. This has been done to raise awareness on the issue and inform the public about the establishment of these centres.

In an earlier meeting, it was decided that 15 schools for special needs children from across the province will be handed over to a non-governmental organisation (NGO) in order to improve the standard of education and care facilities for the students. This meeting was with Public Private Partnership Unit Director General Khalid Mehmood. Qamar expressed the hope that in collaboration with the private sector, such initiatives can improve access to education for special needs children.