I AM a Pakistani citizen afflicted with a hearing impairment. According to the 1998 census about 2.5 per cent of the country’s population suffers from one disability or the other.

To add to the woes of a citizen afflicted with a disability is their own ignorance about their right as enshrined in Pakistan’s constitution and the UN human rights charter.

Many disabled citizens don’t know about their right to have a disability certificate that is to be issued by the concerned government district hospital. This certificate entitles them to facilities.

Those who possess a disability certificate can avail themselves of benefits like special education, tax exemption, free medical treatment, provision of a wheelchair, hearing aid etc., a reduction in air and railway fares by almost 50pc. They are also entitled to a five per cent job quota in government departments

It is unfortunate that often authorities managing the concerned district headquarters hospitals refuse to issue a disability certificate to disabled people.

The federal and provincial governments should take immediate action to address this anomaly and help citizens with disabilities. They can be useful citizens — with a little help — and contribute their bit to Pakistan’s bright future.

Malik Jodat Abdullah
Lahore

Published in Dawn, December 16th, 2018