GLOBAL human rights activists have underscored the importance of identifying and eliminating barriers to accessibility for individuals with disabilities, as articulated by the United Nations in Article 9 of its 2006 declaration.

In Pakistan, a significant number of individuals acquire disabilities, parti-cularly spinal cord and head injuries, as a result of road traffic accidents, falls from heights, congenital abnormalities of the nervous system, and malignancies.

This population, particularly women, who use wheelchairs, encounter subs-tantial obstacles and inaccessibility in public spaces, such as medical stores, laboratories, hospitals, markets, and various other community locations.

Moreover, most public restrooms lack facilities designed for physically challenged individuals, and the absence of ramps in many buildings further compounds the challenges faced by these individuals, significantly diminishing their quality of life.

Addressing these issues necessitates the removal of accessibility barriers in various public spaces.

This can actually be achieved by simply providing ramps, lowered platforms, and dedicated spaces for individuals with disabilities, especially in all public transport buses across the country.

Prof Shams Raza Brohi
Tando Adam

Published in Dawn, November 23rd, 2023