National conference: Citizens asked to play role in facilitating persons with disabilities

More than five million such persons in Pakistan: speaker.

Disabled persons remain a largely neglected part of society and need to be taken into account especially while planning the national budget.

This was stated by the Punjab government’s Special Education Department Secretary Abdullah Khan Sumbal during a conference on “Comprehensive rehabilitation and employment of persons with disabilities,” said press release.

The event was organised by Helping Hand for Relief and Development (HHRD) and Awan-i-Quaid, Nazriya Pakistan Council.

Islamic Circle of North America President Dr Syed Zahid Bukhari stated that more than five million people are suffering from disabilities in Pakistan and the number is increasing by 2.6 % annually.

HHRD Country Director Fazalur Rehman said that the number of persons with disabilities has drastically increased in the aftermath of the 2005 earthquake in the northern parts of the country. Statistics reveal there are more than 3.3 million disabled persons in rural areas and over 1.7 million in urban areas.

Pakistan Institute of Prosthetic and Orthotic Sciences Chairman Dr Bakht Sarwer said people should be sensitised about their roles towards empowering persons with disabilities.

Civil society members, businessmen and religious scholars also participated in the conference.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 1^st, 2012.