Pakistan to have better legislation on disabilities

Pakistani men on wheelchairs hold placards during a rally as they mark the International Day of Persons with Disabilities in Karachi yesterday.

Internews/Islamabad

World Health Organisation in collaboration with Ministry of National Health Services Regulations and Co-ordination and Community-Based Inclusive Development Network Pakistan is in the process of the formulation of legislation on disabilities as well as the launch of Urdu version of World Disability Report and Community-Based Rehabilitation Guidelines, according to Dr Maryam Mallick, technical adviser on medical rehabilitation at WHO.

At the International Day of Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) yesterday, Maryam Mallick said that around the world, PWDs faced physical, social, economic and attitudinal barriers that excluded them from participating fully and effectively as equal members of society.

She said in Pakistan like many developing countries, PWDs were mostly unseen, unheard and uncounted persons, facing a multitude of social, economic, physical and political barriers that hampered their mainstreaming in society.

“Despite significant advancement in the international normative framework on disability during the last three decades, limited action has taken place on the ground.

“The lack of understanding of disability as a development issue, the lack of policy coherence and co-ordination in terms of addressing disability and development, and the absence of specific institutions and resources for action have been contributing factors,” she said.

The WHO adviser said there was an increased political will and government ownership and commitment towards the understanding and knowledge of needs of PWDs both at federal and provincial levels.

“Many advancement and progress are being made in the field of disabilities in the country. A recent achievement is the establishment of the Community-Based Inclusive Development Network, which has brought all disability-related organisations together at one platform, which represents member organisations in the larger community at local, provincial, national and international levels,” she said.

Dr Maryam said over a billion people, around 15% of the world’s population, had some form of disability. She said the prevalence and magnitude of disability in Pakistan as estimated by population census 1998, revealed 2.49% of the population was suffering from some kind of disability.

“Patterns of disability in the country are influenced by trends in health conditions, environmental trends, and other factors such as road traffic crashes, natural disasters, conflict, diet and substance abuse.

“Rates of disability are increasing due to population aging and increases in chronic health conditions, among other causes,” she said.

The WHO adviser said this year, International Day of Persons with Disabilities with the theme of ‘Break barriers, open doors for an inclusive society and development for all’ was to be marked to provide an opportunity to further raise awareness of disability and accessibility as a cross cutting development issue and further the global efforts to promote accessibility, remove all types of barriers, and to realise the full and equal participation of persons with disabilities in society and shape the future of development for all.

She said that the marking of the day was proclaimed in 1992 by the UN General Assembly through a resolution to promote an understanding of disability issues and mobilise support for the dignity, rights and well-being of persons with disabilities.