ISLAMABAD: The National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser on Friday made the Parliament House building and the National Assembly’s official website accessible to persons with disabilities besides unveiling the full version of the Braille constitution of Pakistan.

Speaking at a ceremony of International Day of Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) at the Parliament House, Asad Qaiser said collaborative efforts required to ensure inclusive, accessible, and sustainable future of persons with disabilities. The theme for the day is: “Leadership and Participation of Persons with Disabilities toward an inclusive, accessible and sustainable post-Covid-19 world.”

“The parliament is a platform where all social welfare organisations, which were taking steps for the welfare of persons with disabilities (PWDs), can be facilitated. The parliament is cognizant of socio-economic challenges faced by PWDs in the society,” Speaking to participants, Speaker Asad Qaiser said that differently-abled people had immense potential and energy to contribute to the progress of the country.

He said they were capable to performing all tasks and they needed encouragement and assistance to make them productive part of the society.

He claimed that facilitating the people with disabilities had been the priority of incumbent government and the state was taking various steps to provide equal access to education and health and other basic facilities to them.

Appreciating the achievements of National Assembly Special Committee on PWDs, Speaker Asad Qaiser said that there were a lot of organisations, which were striving for facilitating differently–abled people and it had been his responsibility to bring all efforts in one direction on the platform of the Parliament. He also resolved to support all welfare organizations that were trying to bring positive changes in the lives of special people.

MNA Zila Humma said that that special committee on special people appointed by Speaker National Assembly had made progress by suggesting and recommending policy measures in providing fundamental facilities to differently-abled individual. Emerging Leader on Disability Inclusion Zala Qaiser said that persons with disabilities were facing major challenges of illiteracy and lack of health facilities.

She also proposed that special quota for PWDs should be allocated at provincial and federal levels.

She demanded that special women should be the special focus of the policy makers. A special documentary regarding initiatives for socio-economic inclusion of special persons by Speaker National Assembly Asad Qaiser was also shown.

The ceremony was attended by federal ministers, parliamentarians, country representative United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), and representatives of welfare organizations.

Published in Dawn, December 4th, 2021