Number of specially challenged persons rises to 5.3 million in Pakistan

The number of specially challenged persons rose to 5.3 million in the country, of them, 500,000 are residing in Karachi. This was stated by renowned Neurosurgeon Dr Wasey Shakir at 'Ba-Himaat' award ceremony organized by Association of Builders and Developers of Pakistan in collaboration with Jasaarat media group and Al-Khidmat to acknowledge the services of disabled persons in the country.

He said that the growth rate of disabled persons is 2.56 percent, of them 60 percent population are with hands and foots disability and 8 percent of them are blinds.

Furthermore, he said that majority of these persons are not working professionals, despite having abilities. Dr Wasey said that government had evolved a policy for disabled persons in 2002 but unfortunately it was not implemented yet and urged the authority concerned to draft a mechanism for the disbursement of funds from Bait-ul-Maal (treasury) to make them enabled in the society. He also advised the builders and developers to ensure ramps and parking facilities for them in their projects.

Meanwhile, chairman ABAD Mohsin Shekhani announced to fix 10 percent quota for disabled persons in ABAD vocational training program, which is expected to be commenced by June 2020.

He said that there was a need of collective efforts to support specially challenged persons in the country and this event was aimed at acknowledging the services of disabled persons for the country and hoped that it would motivate other disabled persons to come forward and drag themselves out from the darkness and live like a normal human being.

Around 126 specially challenged persons have been given 'Ba-Himaat' awards at the ceremony in order to appreciate them and acknowledge their services for Pakistan.

These disabled persons are from All Deaf Welfare Association of Pakistan, (24 persons), Pakistan Disabled Foundation (10 persons), Disabled Welfare Association ((7 persons), Deaf Reach Academy (7 persons), Ida Riew (14 persons), election Commission of Pakistan (02 persons), Indivisual Form (03 persons), Media (1 person), JS Academy for Deaf (06 persons), TSN - Adult Welfare (04 persons), Disabled Cricket Association (06 persons), Special Olympics Pakistan (05 persons), PTCL (01 persons), Meezan Bank (02 persons), Pakistan Navy (08 persons), Government of Sindh (02 persons), Orangi Special Social Organization (01 persons), SSGC (11 persons) and others.