December 03, 2006	Sunday	Ziqa'ad 11, 1427

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RAWALPINDI, Dec 2: As no authentic data on incidence of disabilities is available, the government intends to include questions regarding disability in the next population census scheduled for 2008, sources said.

However, applying the WHO estimate of 10 per cent in the context, it is estimated that there are likely to be between 14 and 15 million persons with disabilities out of whom seven to 7.5 million are of school age, reveals an official report.

According to the 1998 census, it was estimated that a total of 2.49 per cent of the population had some form of disability, but the government recognises that the prevalence rate is much higher than indicated in the last census report.

It is estimated that 10 per cent of the world’s population, or about 650 million people suffer from disabilities. Out of this, some 400 million people live in the Asian and Pacific region. Majority of them are excluded from many social opportunities.

The need for improved accessibility by persons with disabilities to the Internet and other information technologies is to be the focus of International Day of Disabled Persons being observed in Pakistan and elsewhere in the world on December 3.

In the federal capital, the observance of International Day for Disabled Persons will be marked by the inauguration of the blind cricket World Cup by Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz on Sunday.

According to a senior CDA official, to some extent, facilities for disabled persons have been developed at Fatima Jinnah Park in F-9. More facilities are being ensured in other parks of the federal capital as well, he added.

The government has decided to make Islamabad, Lahore and Peshawar disabled-friendly cities and arrangements are being made to make new buildings barrier-free.

A telephone helpline is yet to be established to furnish information about obtaining required services for the people with disabilities.

In 1981, the government promulgated an Ordinance which was meant to provide employment, rehabilitation and welfare to the disabled. This was the most comprehensive and powerful legislation for the disabled ever to have been promulgated in Pakistan. The most relevant clause in this ordinance was Clause 10 for the establishments to employ disabled persons.

According to the clause not less than one per cent of the total number of persons employed by an establishment at any time shall be disabled persons. In 1998, this clause was amended to enhance the quota to two per cent.

A National Council for Rehabilitation of Disabled Persons was established along with its counterparts in each province to ensure implementation of relevant clauses and undertake all policy decisions aiming to protect and promote the rights and dignity of persons with disabilities.