People with disabilities: They make up 10% of population but get just 2% of jobs

The need to give disabled people more opportunities and incentives to work better highlighted.

ISLAMABAD:

The current employment quota for persons with disabilities (PWD) is 2%, while they make up 10% of the population. Moreover, even this meagre quota is not implemented in organisations across the country, said Zulqurnain Asghar, Advocacy and Communications Manager at IRADAH, an NGO that works for people with disabilities.

But it’s not just about the low number of jobs. “The government provides the disabled with jobs, but there is no chance of promotion or incentive to work hard,” Asghar added.

He was speaking at an event organised at the National Institute of Special Education in Islamabad.

Asghar called for more representation and participation in decision-making bodies such as the Senate and National Assembly. He also noted that the focus of education needs to shift to inclusion with public and private schools so the disabled can have a fighting chance in life.

Special Education Director General Mustafain Kazmi, the chief guest, said, “There are two attitudes towards the disabled – neglect and overprotection. We have to work together to change them both.”

Earlier, the event started with a documentary highlighting IRADAH’s founder Izhar Hussain and how he continued to excel despite losing his legs and a few fingers to gangrene.

After the documentary, hearing-impaired children from grades two through five performed a tableau on the folk song “Laung Gawacha” by using sign language to communicate the lyrics.

Due to power outages and time constraints, an auction of ornaments made by disabled children had to be put off.

Published In The Express Tribune, June 13^th, 2012.