14 May 2004	Friday	23 Rabi-ul-Awwal 1425

KARACHI, May 13: A special quota be fixed in the parliament for the handicapped people, so that they could highlight their issues and influence the formulation of policies to their benefit, an association working for the disabled demanded.

The demand was made by the representatives of the Disabled Welfare Association, while speaking at a press conference, organized at the Press Club on Thursday. DWA chief Javed Rais, besides Mohammad Abid, Javed Ali, Saima Rais and Gulnaz, spoke on the occasion.

They said that as the government had reserved a certain number of seats for the disadvantaged and vulnerable classes, like the minorities and the women folk, in the parliament, the handicapped be also given representation at the decision-making forum.

Pointing out that the quota fixed for the handicapped in the jobs was not being implemented properly, they demanded that stern action be taken against the organizations that were not observing the quota and were avoiding to recruit the handicapped.

They also demanded that the financial institutions be directed to fix a certain quota in their loaning programmes and to give long-term soft loans to the handicapped, to enable them to set up their own businesses to become economically independent and play their role in strengthening of the country's economy.

They also demanded that plots and apartments be reserved for the disabled people in all future government schemes, besides providing them with free medical facilities and reserving parking areas for them.

They also demanded that seats be reserved for the handicapped in the trains, buses, airlines etc, and that they be given at least 50 per cent subsidy on travelling, as was offered in many countries around the globe.

They also urged the disabled people that they should approach the DWA at its office No 40, Ground Floor, Al Amna Plaza, opposite Capri Cinema, on M A Jinnah Road, so that efforts be made to solve their issues and they could be properly guided.