ISLAMABAD: The planners of the much trumpeted metro bus project have made no arrangements for people with disabilities to use the service.

If alterations are not made before the launch of the service, people with special needs may not be able to use the modern transport facility.

The Ministry of Capital Administration and Development Division (CADD) had written a letter to the management of the metro bus project to ensure facilities for special people and give them the right to travel on the facility.

NA committee told CADD wrote to metro bus project director to ensure facilities for the disabled

This was stated at a meeting of the National Assembly standing committee on cabinet secretariat on Friday.

It may be noted that work on the metro bus project worth Rs44.84 billion was inaugurated by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on March 23, 2014.

The standing committee was discussing an amended bill for the ‘Disabled Persons Employment and Rehabilitation’ moved by MNA Tahira Aurangzeb.

CADD Secretary Khalid Hanif informed the committee that his ministry came to know through a report of his department that the disabled people had been ignored in the metro bus project.

There are no ramps at the bus stations due to which wheelchairs cannot reach the buses. Though public toilets have been established at main metro bus stations, there is no toilet for the disabled persons, he said.

“There should be a wider door and more space in the toilet for the disabled persons so that their wheelchairs can easily enter and turn back,” he said.

“The letter has been sent to the director of the metro project in the current week, advising him to ensure facilities for the disabled persons. I hope that the issue will be resolved by the management of the metro project,” he said.

It may be noted that the entire 8.6 kilometres track of the metro bus is elevated in Rawalpindi whereas in the federal capital a 13.9km signal-free road has been constructed. About 10 bus stations have been established in Rawalpindi and 14 in Islamabad. A central command and control centre is also included in the project.

At the meeting, MNA Tahira Aurangzeb said ramps had been set up at the Pakistan Secretariat in Islamabad for people with disabilities but they were closed due to the prevailing security situation.

“Pathways for other citizens are still open which shows that people with disabilities are not welcomed anywhere,” she said.

The secretary CADD assured the members that the ramps in the Secretariat would be opened for the special people.

The chairman of the committee, Rana Mohammad Hayat Khan, said it was unfortunate that 90 per cent public buildings had no facilities for people with disabilities.

Waseem Ahmed, member planning Capital Development Authority (CDA), said according to the rules of the civic agency ramps for wheelchairs had to be constructed in every building.

An official of the CDA requesting not to be identified said the CDA never approved the map of any building without the ramp facility for the special people.

“We even make ramps in pedestrian bridges which are fixed on different roads. No one took the CDA onboard during the construction of the metro bus project so there is no facility for the special people,” he said.

Committee orders suspension of Polyclinic official Mr Hayat also took up the fake degree issue of the deputy executive director of Polyclinic, Dr Fayaz Sheikh. Dr Sheikh is facing an inquiry regarding a fake degree. Mr Hayat directed the secretary CADD to suspend Dr Sheikh.

It may be noted that Dr Sheikh claimed that he had completed his master’s degree in public health from Thailand but there was no stamp of the university on the degree. The FIA is investigating the matter.

Published in Dawn, April 4th, 2015

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