F.P. Report
PESHAWAR: There are 05 million special persons throughout Pakistan and 2.56 per cent is growth rate of disabled persons in the country while estimated rate of disabled in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa are 03 million but are not treated equally like common civilians.
This was revealed by Chief Executive of Pak Women Organization (PWO) Azra Gul during a Research Study Report Launching here at Peshawar Press Club (PPC) on Thursday. The research based report regarding disabled persons and their ordeals was compiled in ten District of KP province within four months.
She informed that the PWO had formed a Himmat Network of various organizations working on special persons in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, to which, responsibility of conducting the survey under auspices of PWD, had been given, which after four research the report filed.
Those heads of different organizations related to disabled persons include Umair Khan, Wisal Khan Bangash, Zubair Khan and Sher Rahman, who made their researches about special persons in their districts, expressed their regret over lack attendance by the government to disable people.
The survey report, Ms Azra informed that 260 men and 240 special persons have been interviewed to know their difficulties while getting National Identity Cards (NICs) and other routine activities. She added that there were different type of disabilities with the persons including those who fell prey in incidents of bombs.
“Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Comprehensive Act”, which has been tabled in the provincial assembly, which is lying for approval, be passed and all rights be given to the special persons as constitution of the country as they are also citizens.
Zubair Khan, a special person said that there are dozens of houses, wherein four to seven people are disabled and unable to earn and feed to their children but the government particularly Social Welfare Department (SWD) was least bothered to spend the allocated fund on them.
Sher Rahman on the occasion expressed his concern over the government for not implementing the three percent quota for the special persons in government jobs and demanded of the government to bestow the special persons with fixed quota in order to make them able to work and avoid begging.
Wisal Khan Bangash informed that as per his survey in district Kohat, there were lot ordeals to disabled persons, particularly in getting NICs as he added after confirmation certificates from SWD, the National Database Authority (Nadra) give NICs otherwise, they would be deprived. “There are strict rules for special persons while getting the certificate of disability from SWD”, he lamented.
The Special persons, therefore, appealed the government of KP to hold them in high esteem and make everything accessible as make constructors bound to install lifts for disabled persons either in government institutions or private buildings because they face ordeals while approach to any government department or others areas even in recreational parks.
