June 17, 2003	Tuesday	Rabi-us-Sani 16, 1424

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ISLAMABAD, June 16: Draft law to ensure greater opportunities to special persons regarding their employment and rehabilitation will soon be submitted to the cabinet to replace the existing ordinance.

Secretary, Ministry of Women Development, Social Welfare and Special Education, Parveen Qadir Agha, said this while presiding over a meeting on Monday held to review the draft law for rehabilitation and employment of special persons.

The participants of the meeting reviewed recommendations and comments on the draft bill received from the labour, health and law and justice ministries and provincial departments.

President of Pakistan Foundation for Fighting Blindness Dr Salma Maqbool also submitted her suggestions on the draft bill.

The law proposes enhancement of special quota for employment of special persons in the government and private organizations from the present one per cent to two per cent. It will also incorporate measures for accurate collection and disbursement of penalties collected from organizations, unable to follow the quota. The amount will be spent on enabling special persons to become more fit for employment through treatment and provision of supporting devices.

It was also recommended that in the wake of the process of devolution, district governments would also be assigned the role to ensure implementation of this law.

Ms Agha pointed out that involvement of special persons was necessary in decision-making, and, therefore, they would be included in the composition of the National Council for the Rehabilitation of Disabled Persons.

She said after the necessary vetting from the law division, a national consultation on the bill would also take place before its submission to the cabinet.

The meeting was attended by the high officials of the Directorate General of Special Education, other relevant ministries and Barrister Zahid Saeed, the author of the bill.