Facilities for differently-abled missing across K-P

PESHAWAR:

Despite spending nearly a decade governing Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P), the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), much like its predecessors, has failed to uphold the rights of differently abled individuals. Every political party that has led K-P has performed poorly when it comes to implementing laws meant to empower those with disabilities.

This is evidenced by the fact that even a cursory glance at government buildings across the province will show that they are missing facilities like ramps and braille markings meant to assist differently abled people. Moreover, even private buildings have not been reprimanded for their lack of accessibility. It is pertinent to mention that as per data obtained by the provincial social welfare department, K-P is home to around 149,917 differently abled people - who may not be able to navigate the province’s cities on their own.

Furthermore, a breakdown of the differently abled population shows that 20,673 people are visually impaired, 20,637 have hearing impairments, 23,237 are mentally challenged and the remainder have other physical disabilities. Ayaz Khan, a social worker and rights activist, who himself is differently abled, while commenting on the plight of those with disabilities, said that the government did not care for them at all.

“In many public buildings there are no ramps despite there being court rulings mandating that the government provide access to those with disabilities,” remarked Khan, adding that this utter disregard for their rights meant that navigating government departments was a hassle. It is pertinent to mention that as per the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Model Building Bye-Laws 2017, not only are ramps required but they should have a minimum slope of 1 by 12, with holding bars, for differently abled individuals. Furthermore, at least one elevator for a building with 3 floors is compulsory and an additional elevator is required for every additional two floors. Apart from the bye-laws, Khan informed The Express Tribune that even the Supreme Court had ordered all provinces to implement bills for persons with disabilities but the K-P government had failed to obey these orders. Khan’s information holds weight because as far as legislation goes, The Express Tribune learnt from sources privy to the matter that the PTI government’s draft bill titled Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities Act from 2021, first made it to the provincial law department then to the assembly but has not been passed ever since. While the Superintendent of the Social Welfare Department, Tariq Hayat, could not comment on a timeline for the legislation, in an answer to a question regarding the province’s lack of facilities for differently abled individuals, he stated: “the department is working diligently for the welfare of persons with disabilities.”

Hayat further said that as far as requirements like ramps and braille markings are concerned, it was the domain of the provincial Communication and Works department, which takes action against those buildings that do not comply with accessibility requirements. Assistant Director at the Communication and Works Department, Misbah Ullah, when asked about the lack of ramps and other facilities for the differently abled, said that it was only the departments and buildings built way back in the day that were missing ramps. “For every new building it is mandatory to follow the building codes and we strictly enforce the rules,” Misbah Ullah told The Express Tribune.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 4^th, 2023.