KARACHI, Dec 2: The Pakistan Disabled Foundation on Saturday urged the authorities to give representation to the handicapped people on all decision-making forums so that they could protect their rights.

Addressing a press conference on the eve of the ‘International Day for the Disabled’, being observed on Sunday, PDF chief Shahid Memon noted that handicapped people were being deprived of their rights as they had no say in the decision-making forums and those at the helm of the affairs were quite unaware of the problems being faced by this segment of the society.

He demanded more facilities for the disabled people for their skill development and educational enhancement in order to help them have a respectable livelihood and play a better role in the progress and prosperity of the country.

He also called for allowing duty free import of the equipment essential for the handicapped people.

Mr Memon appealed to the government to effectively and judiciously implement the two per cent quota reserved for the handicapped people in jobs. He also suggested issuance of special identity cards for them.

He also demanded revival of the National Braille Press and the National Trust for Disabled Persons and restoration of the hostels meant for the handicapped people to their representative organisations by dislodging those occupying them illegally.