President Dr Arif Alvi has emphasized the need for uniform, comprehensive and all-inclusive facilitation of Differently-abled Persons (DAPs) for their registration with NADRA and issuance of identity cards, provision of healthcare facilities, assessment of their disability level and its nature in a hassle-free manner. He added that DAPs were very equal members of society and their inclusiveness was essential for developing a strong and healthy society. The President expressed these views during a briefing, given by Chairman NADRA, Mr Muhammad Tariq Malik, on issues pertaining to the registration of persons with disabilities (PWDs), at Aiwan-e-Sadr, today. During the meeting, the President urged the need for a comprehensive and inclusive awareness campaign at the national and provincial levels to eliminate discrimination against DAPs in society and to remove stigmas and stereotypes attached to PWDs. He also called for granting complete access to PWDs in mainstream educational institutions without any discrimination or non-professional treatment. He further said that training institutions should take steps for the inclusion of DAPs, and devise special curricula and techniques for their skill development. He said that employers should factor in their disabilities and create special jobs for PWDs, besides providing them with Assistive Technology so that their full potential could be realized. The President said that the medical board to assess the disability of the DAPs across Pakistan should have the same terms of reference, procedures and forms. He appreciated NADRA for giving free-of-cost services to DAPs, establishing exclusive counters for PWD, and creating barrier-free access in most of its centres across the country for DAPs for all services. The President also emphasized the need for creating awareness of different incentives and schemes offered for DAPs at various levels, including stipends under the Benazir Income Support Program (BISP) for DAPs, discounted entry at Metro Bus Service, BRT Peshawar, railways and PIA so that DAPs could avail these services and enhance their productivity. The President also appreciated the issuance of Juvenile cards by NADRA and also urged the need to create plastic-based cards for DAPs from ages 5 to 9 years, which would be useful for DAPs and would be easy to keep. He said that the best practices developed by NADRA to facilitate PWDs, and the best practices of other federal institutions in providing services to DAPs should be shared with all the provinces at all levels for their duplication to provide better facilities to DAPs. He also appreciated NADRA for maintaining a record of around 6 lacs registered PWDs, adding that this ratio needed to be increased. The President said that unfortunately DAPs continue to face a wide array of issues including the lack of wheelchair-friendly ramps, screen readers, Braille, signage and employment opportunities and stressed the need for all relevant stakeholders to take measures to extend the benefits of the modern and Assistive Technology to support the DAPs.
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