Bahawalpur: District-level measures are being taken under the vision of Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz to empower persons with disabilities, facilitate their participation in society, and protect their rights and access to essential services.
In this connection, a meeting of the District Welfare and Rehabilitation Unit was held under the chairmanship of Additional Deputy Commissioner Municipal Services Dr Ayesha Khan.
The meeting reviewed 179 applications received under the general category and through the ‘Maryam Ko Batain’ app for the provision of assistive devices and wheelchairs to persons with disabilities. Following the consensus of committee members, Additional Deputy Commissioner Municipal Services Dr Ayesha Khan approved the provision of assistive devices against all 179 applications.
The meeting also reviewed employment opportunities for persons with disabilities and implementation of the prescribed employment quota.
Deputy Director Social Welfare Muhammad Uzair informed the meeting that the approved assistive devices included white canes, Braille equipment, three-wheel motorcycles, walkers, wheelchairs, mobile toilets and other essential equipment. He said notices had been issued to private institutions and establishments regarding implementation of the three per cent employment quota for persons with disabilities.
Dr Ayesha Khan directed representatives of the Labour Department and the Punjab Employees Social Security Institution (PESSI) to ensure complete compliance with the legal requirements under the Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities Act regarding employment opportunities and other rights and facilities for persons with disabilities. She also directed that effective monitoring be carried out to ensure implementation of the prescribed employment quota for persons with disabilities.
A representative of the Pakistan Association of the Blind raised the issue of travel concessions for persons with disabilities on public transport. He informed the meeting that holders of special persons’ identity cards issued by NADRA were legally entitled to a 50 per cent fare concession on public transport, but some transporters were not providing the concession.
The Additional Deputy Commissioner directed the Secretary Regional Transport Authority to identify transporters and transport companies failing to provide the legally prescribed 50 per cent fare concession to persons with disabilities on the basis of their NADRA identity cards and take action against them in accordance with the law. The meeting reaffirmed its commitment to protecting the rights of persons with disabilities, ensuring timely provision of assistive devices, enforcing the prescribed employment quota and facilitating access to transport concessions and other legal and basic rights and services.