KARACHI, June 5: Speakers at a seminar on Monday called for issuance of driving licences to deaf people to increase their mobility and to save them from facing problems in their day-to-day life.

Mr Zia Awan, the chief of the Lawyers for Human Rights and Legal Aid (LHRLA), said that Constitution guarantees equal rights to citizens regardless of their physical disabilities.

Speaking at a seminar on “driving licence for the deaf”, organised by the Pakistan Association of the Deaf (PAD) at a local hotel, he said that he would make all possible efforts to achieve this right for the deaf.

Mr Awan suggested that a human rights petition should be submitted in the court of law.

Mr Awan added that the process of legislature is quite lengthy and the traffic police can only recommend issuance of driving licences.

Earlier, Irfan Mumtaz, the president of PAD, said the organisation had been running from pillar to achieve their demand, and requested the authorities concerned to take steps for the welfare of the deaf.

He asserted that such people are fully capable of following traffic signals, adding the association had prepared a book on traffic rules and signals for hearing impaired people.

“People with hearing disability also lead a normal life, and issuance of licensees can increase their performance.

ENT specialist Mr Fasihullah also endorsed that a physically fit person, with good eyesight, should be allowed driving licences. He said in developed countries, like Japan, people with hearing problems are permitted to drive, whereas in Pakistan, such a liberty is denied.

Deputy home secretary Mudassir Khan promised to convey the concerns of the deaf to the authorities.

DG traffic, Falak Khursheed assured complete cooperation if laws are amended in favour of issuance of driving licence to the people with hearing loss.

Mansoor Majeed, the General Secretary of PAD, presented a brief outline of the working of the association. He announced that the PAD, which has been working since 1987, has now established its first computer literacy centre for the hearing-impaired.

Mr Majeed added that the association had developed a sign language for Pakistanis, and plans to improve it further.

The seminar also introduced Ms Erum Jahan, who is presently a squash trainer at PIA, and was once a squash champion herself. Ms Jahan said despite her hearing disability, she used to drive with ease while in London, and said such practices be introduced in Pakistan, as well.

She suggested that there should be some sort of sign on the vehicles driven by such people, telling other motorists that the driver has hearing disability.

Members of the association also presented a small skit projecting various problems faced by the people with hearing problems, and once again reiterated the need for issuing driving licences.

A couple of skits were staged by the deaf people to highlight the issue.— Sa’adia Reza