KARACHI, Feb 4: Leader of the opposition in Sindh Assembly Nisar Khuhro on Friday accused the government of not doing anything for the physically handicapped people , as representatives of special people demanded quota in the assemblies for advocating their cause.

They spelt this out at a news conference in the assembly chambers to draw media's attention to the government's refusal to take up a bill moved by Ms Shazia Marri with a view to amend the Sindh Building Control (amendment) Bill-2004, which had sought to provide for ramps and elevators for the physically handicapped people in the city buildings.

The bill was opposed by Senior Minister Syed Sardar Ahmed, who unfortunately could not grasp the gravity of the situation and trivialized the issue, stating that no amendment was necessary. Ms Marri said she wanted to amend the law to make it mandatory for all buildings to have appropriate facilities for special people.

The PPP-Parliamentarian's spokesman on Local government issues, Mr Zahid Bhurgari, while briefing journalists claimed that physically challenged people constituted over 15 per cent of Sindh's population. In addition, number of senior citizens in the province was also increasing, he added, saying that they too had the right to lead a comfortable life.

Mr Bhurgari claimed that the government showed no interest to address the issue, which was also a major concern for physically challenged students, who were deprived of many opportunities that they would otherwise be able to avail, if only adequate facilities were provided in educational institutions.

Majority of the population of Sindh, living in rural areas, was also facing severe disabilities due to lack of basic healthcare, said Mr Bhurgari. Not just educational institutions, but shopping complexes, offices buildings, multi-storey residential buildings, restaurants and many others remained un visited by the handicapped people due to the absence of ramps and elevators, he added.

"Instead of progressing, our policies show a definite regress, as the quota for importing duty-free vehicles by people with special needs has been cancelled," he said, adding, "This proves that the government has no interest in addressing the issue".

Prior to the submission of this bill, in 2003, the Pakistan Peoples Party had also brought in a resolution recommending the federal government to introduce a 2 per cent quota for the physically challenged in the Federal Public Service Commission's competitive examinations, which was earlier absent, said Mr Bhurgari.

It was unanimously passed, but no progress was reported in that regard, he said, adding that the Sindh government was weakening the resolution in the same manner as in the case of unanimous resolutions passed by the provincial assembly regarding the NFC Award and against greater Thal canal.

Such "destructive" actions by the Sindh government were aimed merely at weakening the fabric of Sindh, destabilizing the province and ultimately the federation, he claimed.