Imran vows equal opportunities for people of determination
PM announces special bill on International Day of Persons with Disabilities
Prime Minister Imran Khan’s government has prepared a bill to offer equal opportunities, in both education and employment, to people of determination in the country.
On his official Twitter account, @ImranKhanPTI, Khan posted: “On International Day of Persons with Disabilities, I want to reiterate our government’s commitment to transforming their lives by offering them equal opportunities in education and employment. Our Bill to empower and enable them to surmount all barriers is ready.”
There are at least 30 million people of determination in Pakistan, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO). And according to a report prepared by the United Nations Human Rights Office of the High Commissioner, the existing legislation in Pakistan, the ‘Disabled people (Employment and Rehabilitation) Ordinance 1981’, has not specifically allocated the funds for the representative organisations of people of determination.
The report also states that once a year, rare opportunities are made available that deal with charity, to provide financial assistance and distribute assistive devices.
In 2002, Pakistan formed a National Policy 2002, which was later translated into the National Action Plan 2006.
This was meant to focus on 17 identified critical areas regarding people of determination.
‘Work on education’
The latest policy was issued in 2012, called Disabled Persons (Employment and Rehabilitation) (Amendment) Act 2012. However, the UN report says Pakistan has been unable to secure their rights thus far.
Despite that, social media users in the country are now hopeful that Khan’s bill is a step in the right direction. Tweeps urges him to focus on their needs, especially children.
Tweep @izaanch123 posted: “That’s amazing. I think you should work on education a lot because it’s bad right know, like really bad.”
@farahmuhamdi tweeted: “That’s great. We must serve humanity, it’s our responsibility and also a step towards social betterment.”
Tweep @fouzi_s wrote: “There is a plan and a purpose, a value to every life, no matter what its location, age, gender or disability.”
@MansurA47607719 tweeted: “Please consider mental illness as a disability, too. It’s high time.”
Tweep @DrAyeshaNaveed added: “Please build schools for special children, including those who are deaf, mute and blind. In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, I am unable to find any higher secondary school for them.”
On December 3, the world marks the International Day of Disabled Persons, as stated by the UN.
This day aims to “promote the rights and well-being of people of determination in all spheres of society and development, and to increase awareness of the situation of people of determination in every aspect of political, social, economic and cultural life”.
According to a report by Geo News, a Pakistan-based news channel, Pakistan is also participating in raising awareness of the situation.