ISLAMABAD, Dec 18: The National Policy for Disabled 2002 is more inclined towards segregating persons with impairments rather than helping them integrate into mainstream.

This criticism came at an open discussion arranged by the Pakistan Association for the Blind held in connection with World Day for Disabled here on Saturday.

"Call us equal not special," said the visually-impaired persons, describing the problems and difficulties they faced in society.

Noor Hussain, a visually impaired, criticized and described the title "National Policy for Disabled" as discriminatory and demanded the government change the name to "National Policy for Persons with Impairments".

"The government has failed to deliver and has been unable to chalk out legislation to safeguard the rights of persons with impairments," he said.

"According to the national policy for disabled, special college has been built for persons with impairments in Lahore. Soon the federal capital will have a college on similar lines while Karachi has a university for special persons. This move will segregate persons with impairments.

"The government should take serious note of it and stick to its commitment to integrating special persons into the mainstream education system after primary or matric," he said.

Persons with impairments could not even have separate bank accounts, Mr Noor said. "The National Bank tells us that we need to be 100 per cent fit physically to be account holders. Similar treatment is meted out to us by insurance companies, who do not entertain special persons."

The WHO instructed nations to reserve 10 per cent employment seats for persons with impairments, which the Pakistan reduced to 3 per cent, he said, adding, "Even this is not implemented and people tell us that we have better prospects in chair-making, knitting or other such occupations."

"We want to be part of what is going on around us. It hurts to see the lamentable treatment meted out to special persons and their loved ones."

Abdul Mannan, the Vice-Principal of the Al-Makhdum Special Education Centre for the Blind, highlighted the difficulties senior citizens with impairments faced. He said the government had ignored their needs.

"There are old single women who have nobody to attend to. There are retired old Braillists who are sitting at homes wasting time as they have no opportunities nor facilities to make effective contributions," he added.

Syed Sultan Shah, the former captain of Pakistan cricket team for the blind which won the world cup, said he commuted from his home in I-10 to his workplace in Blue Area. "I often travel by hanging onto the bus and have even to sit on roofs of the vehicle. But I don't mind. However, I do ask for a little credit for what I have given to Pakistan."

The association for the blind demanded that relevant persons should be employed and persons with impairments be involved in the decision-making process to understand the predicaments of special persons and fight for their rights.

In reply to the criticism, Senator Hajira Tariq, who was the chief guest, said putting theory into practice was easier said than done. Nonetheless, the government was committed to working for the welfare of persons with impairments.

"There will be more training schools and better health facilities for the special persons. My doors are open to suggestions to address few of the problems of persons with impairments."

Chairman Social Welfare Council Rais Jehangir said persons with impairments were capable of contributing to national development and all they needed was a chance to prove that they were strong and committed to doing their duties.