ISLAMABAD, Feb 1: Federal Minister for Social Welfare and Special Education Zobaida Jalal on Tuesday said the ministry had sent a summary to the federal cabinet for legislation on reserving a two per cent jobs quota for disabled persons both in public and private sectors.

She was talking to a delegation of Asia-Pacific Development Centre on Disability (APCD) which called on her at the ministry. During the meeting, it was decided that Pakistan would host an international seminar on "Capacity-building of Self Help Organizations of Persons with Disabilities" in September this year.

Ms Jalal said the seminar would be organized by the ministry. About 100 delegates from 25-30 countries of Asia-Pacific region are expected to attend the seminar. A committee would soon be formed to look after the organizational matters.

Representatives from other ministries like education, health, labour and manpower and housing and works would also be invited to give their inputs. The seminar will help strengthen the NGOs working for the persons with disabilities besides creating coordination among the NGOs as well the government departments providing services to the disabled persons.

The APCD delegation headed by chief advisor, Akiie Ninamia, gave a presentation on the activities of the Development Centre based in Bangkok (Thailand). There are about 400 million challenged people in Asia Pacific region.

To enable this socially vulnerable section of the society to become useful citizens, the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and Pacific (UNESCAP) and APCD, from 1992- 2002, observed a decade of disabled persons.

Owing to its outstanding results the following decade i.e 2002-2012 has also been dedicated to this noble cause. The meeting also agreed that regional cooperation was essential in changing the behaviour patterns of the society for allowing full participation to the disabled persons.

The meeting was also attended by Secretary Social Welfare and Special Education Dr Aleem Mahmood, Joint Secretary (currently holding the additional charge of Director-General Special Education) Ashraf Ali Khan, Directors Special Education, Khalid Naeem and Mubarak Ahmad and Managing Director Pakistan Bait-ul- Mal Muhammad Sarfaraz.