Capital to be made disabled-friendly

Asad Umar says Parliament House to be made accessible for PWDs

ISLAMABAD:

The development body of the federal capital has entered an agreement to make the city disabled-friendly in terms of providing better access to offices, markets, parks and other such public places.

A memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed between Kashmir Orphan Relief Trust (KORT) and Capital Development Authority (CDA) at Parliament House on Thursday to make Islamabad friendly for people with disabilities (PWDs), an official statement said.

The MoU was signed by KORT Chairman Chaudhry Muhammad Akhtar and CDA director general. National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser after witnessing the signing of the MOU, said that taking care of needy and destitute was the collective responsibility as this segment of the society was marginalised, needed care and attention.

He also emphasised to take initiatives to cater to the needs of street children. He appreciated the performance of the Special Parliamentary Committee on Disabled Persons which was the first Special Parliamentary Committee to deliberate upon and take policy initiatives for the welfare of orphans, street children and PWDs.

He said that Parliament House was also in process of being made disabled-friendly. He stressed on all government departments to get their buildings checked for making them more accessible to PWDs. The Speaker said that the present government envisioned a true welfare state based on Islamic principles of justice, equality and respect for humanity.

He said that various measures had been adopted for welfare of the marginalised segments.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 22^nd, 2021.