ISLAMABAD, Sept 24: Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz on Saturday said the civil society and philanthropists should play their role in integrating disabled persons into the society. He was talking to World Bank Adviser on Disability and Development Judith E. Heumann who called on him at the Prime Minister’s house.

Mr Aziz said: “We must reach out and integrate disabled persons into every segment of the society so that they could not only become useful citizens but also make valuable contribution to the society.”

In this connection, he said, public-private partnership could play a key role in accelerating the process by pooling in their resources.

The prime minister said the government had reserved a two per cent quota for disabled persons in the civil service to encourage them and utilize their talent and services in the public sector.

He referred to a recent international seminar hosted by the government for the disabled persons which was participated by representatives from 21 countries. This reflected the keen interest of the government in the welfare and mainstreaming of disabled persons.

Talking about the status of women in the country, the

prime minister said his government believed that no nation could progress unless women work shoulder to shoulder with men.

Therefore, it has been pursuing a policy of inclusion and has mandated representation of women in all tiers of government, right from the local level to the national level, he added.

Mr Aziz further said various other initiatives were also being taken by the government to encourage participation of women in all segments of society. They are also being rovided with greater opportunities to enhance their social and economic empowerment, he added.

Judith E. Heumann appreciated the policies being pursued by the government for mainstreaming disabled persons, and congratulated the Pakistan government for hosting a successful international seminar for the special persons.