President of Pakistan, Dr. Arif Alvi, has stressed the need for creating jobs for persons with disabilities (PWDs), while also keeping in view their special needs and disabilities, to bring them at par with other people and to make them socially and economically empowered. He said that PWDs should be enabled to perform their day-to-day activities and become productive members of society by removing social, economic, and structural barriers which hinder their equal and complete inclusion in society. The President expressed these views while chairing a meeting with business organisations like Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industries, KATI, SITE and Korangai Associations, at Governor House, Karachi, today. Addressing the meeting, the President emphasized the need for creating awareness in society about the rights of PWDs and the responsibility of different stakeholders, particularly the business community, towards PWDs. He added that collective efforts were needed to make Pakistan’s society inclusive by ensuring the participation of marginalized communities, particularly PWDs, into mainstream of socio-economic activities. The President further urged the business community to pay special attention to resolve the problems being faced by PWDs, especially creating ease in their mobility and movement by constructing wheel-chair-friendly ramps at business centers, industrial areas, financial centers, banks, commercial areas, and markets. He also called upon the members of the business community to implement the 5% job quota for PWDs, and creating a PWD-friendly and conducive environment at workplaces. The President also highlighted the need for society to treat PWDs in a respectable manner and deal with them compassionately, besides ensuring the participation of PWDs in society in every walk of life. He urged the business community to come forward and play their part in this noble cause, adding that there was a dire need to impart skills and necessary trainings to PWDs so that they might become self-sufficient and financially independent. First lady Begum Samina Alvi also attended the meeting and informed the participants about the awareness campaign regarding the rights and facilitation of PWDs.
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