Law in the offing to empower differently-abled people

Lahore High Court’s (LJC) Justice Jawad Hassan fixed the next date to review progress made regarding accessibility to buildings of people with special needs after the provincial government informed the bench the draft 'Punjab Empowerment of Persons With Disabilities Act 2021' had been submitted for the cabinet's approval.

The court was informed that the law would be presented before Punjab Assembly for legislation to provide the best facilities to differently-abled persons after its approval by the provincial cabinet.

The judge was hearing a petition filed by Sana Khurshid, a lawyer who has been quadriplegic since a car accident left her wheelchair-bound in 2002. The petitioner sought directions to the authorities concerned to enforce the Lahore Development Authority (LDA) Building & Zone Regulations 2019 and Defence Housing Authority Lahore Construction & Development Regulations of 2014 for provision of ramps, lifts and toilets in public buildings, apartments and commercial centres. The petition called for meaningful access at exit and entrance points of buildings through ramps with handrail and space for parking for differently-abled persons.

The secretary for social welfare and Baitul Mall appeared before the court on Sunday and informed it that the draft had been forwarded to the cabinet after vetting.

Justice Hassan fixed December 17 for updating the court about progress on the issue.

The petitioner made respondents the government of Punjab through its chief secretary, secretaries for housing, urban development and public health engineering, the LDA director general and others.

The petitioner’s counsel Advocate Ali Rasheed Chughtai implored the court that she had faced numerous obstacles, all stemming from discrimination and ambivalence from the general public and the state due to her status as a quadriplegic wheelchair user.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 4^th, 2021.