International Day of Persons with Disabilities is celebrated worldwide on December 3 every year. Realizing the importance of this day, a special discussion was organized in the “Express Forum” in which representatives of the government and private individuals were invited. Discussions in the forum are open to readers.
Muhammad Tariq Qureshi
(DG Social Welfare and Baitul Mal Punjab, Secretary Council of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities)
The courage card of Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif has revolutionized the lives of people with disabilities. History is a witness that those nations are always on the path of development, which take special care of their people, especially the weaker sections, not only give them equal rights to ordinary citizens, but also provide them with special facilities and privileges considering their problems and difficulties. Special people are an important part of society who deserve the most attention and compassion.
Maryam Nawaz Sharif, the first woman Chief Minister in the history of Pakistan, has undoubtedly played an important role in reducing the sufferings of special people. As soon as he assumed office, he started serving the people of Punjab with seriousness, integrity and steadfastness for public welfare. It is commendable.
He took special interest in rehabilitation programs for special people in the province. On his instructions, Provincial Minister for Social Welfare and Treasury Sohail Shaukat Butt took concrete steps for the rehabilitation, care and education and training of special people in a short period of time and adopted an effective strategy. Hemat card program was started on the special instructions of Maryam Nawaz Sharif, under which special people are being given monthly stipends for three years. Apart from this, 10,790 assistive devices including wheelchairs, electric wheelchairs, hearing aids, tricycles, Braille and other devices have been provided.
This program has been started to make the life of special people easier. Under the Punjab government’s Dhi Rani program, about five thousand deserving girls have been married so far. Through this programme, the Social Welfare and Baitul Mal Department is also giving a Rs.2 lakh Chief Minister Punjab Maryam Nawaz Sharif greeting package to each couple and arranging lunch for 20 guests attending the wedding ceremony.
Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif’s vision is to make special people useful citizens of the society. To achieve this goal, various programs have been launched through which special people will be able to beautify their future by becoming skilled. Department of Social Welfare and Baitul Mal Punjab is working more diligently and diligently than before so that all the resources are utilized for the welfare of women, children and elderly as well as for special persons and the process of balanced development in Punjab continues.
So far 85 thousand courage cards have been distributed. Minister for Social Welfare Punjab Sohail Shaukat Butt has assured that the registration process for Himat Card will be expedited at every tehsil level. There are data of 5 lakh 36 thousand special people across Punjab, under which two categories have been created: fit to work and not fit to work (that is, those people who cannot work), under this program, courage card will be issued to 1 lakh more special people of not fit to work category this year.
Boards have also been formed in hospitals to issue certificates to special persons, which include the Technical Education and Vocational Training Authority (TUTA Punjab), Labor Department, Social Welfare Department, a concerned doctor and the Medical Superintendent of the hospital. The certificate states whether a person is able to work or not and on this basis the identity card of that person is generated. Biometrics of special persons will also be done to obtain courage card, for which a mobile application has been developed with the help of Punjab IT Board.
Along with this helpline 1312 has also been set up to get Hemat Card. Punjab Government is working on various programs including establishment of Provincial Council for Protection of Rights of Persons with Disabilities, approval of Rules and Regulations of Punjab Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2022, implementation of handicapped accessible building codes, 3% quota of special persons in government jobs. 1 percent quota for the blind, 50 percent discount on fares through concessional travel card, free education in special educational institutions and medical facilities.
Additionally, monthly stipend of 12,000 rupees is also being given to educated unemployed blind people. Apart from this, to promote sports and cultural activities for special persons, Chief Minister Punjab Para-Special Games will be organized from December 8 to 12, in which the persons with disabilities are being provided opportunities to participate so that they can participate fully in the social life.
He has started various projects for the welfare of special persons by implementing the vision of Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif and is working hard for their success. Sohail Shaukat Butt has set up camps in different tehsils across the province to ensure the registration of special persons and distribution of courage cards where registration and biometric process of special persons is going on rapidly.
Apart from this, they have started separate bus service for disabled people in different cities and 1100 wheelchairs have been provided to the transport department to facilitate their travel. Under the leadership of Sohail Shaukat Butt, the Social Welfare and Baitul-Mal Department has initiated various projects for the protection of the rights of special persons and their welfare.
Thanks to these initiatives, the lives of the special people are improving significantly and they are actively participating in the social life. The revolutionary initiatives taken by the Punjab government for the special people and the success of these projects under the leadership of Sohail Shaukat Butt have proved that any goal can be achieved if determination and will are strong. These measures taken for the welfare of special people are not only improving their lives but also bringing about a positive change in the society. The Government of Punjab is committed to the welfare of the differently abled and is taking all possible steps to improve their lives.
Dr. Khalid Jameel
(Bag Brother)
International Day of Persons with Disabilities is celebrated worldwide on December 3, which has different themes. In Pakistan, we have to move forward with this theme of reaching out to those people who are unaccounted for. In big cities and areas, facilities are available to special people, they are also accessible by the government and NGOs, but special people living in remote areas are still deprived of their basic rights and facilities.
We have to reach these deprived people. Government and NGOs should reach out to them through volunteers and do community based rehabilitation. Capacity building of people should also be done at the local level and special people should be given facilities in their area. According to an estimate, there are two and a half million people with disabilities in Pakistan, which is a huge number. Less than 10 percent of them have access to facilities while the rest live a life of poverty and run their own affairs.
One of the important tasks regarding special people is to change the thinking of the society. In terms of legal aspects, Pakistan is one of the five countries in the world where there is the most legislation for special people. For example, in Pakistan, 3 to 5 percent quota is allocated for employment and education for special people. Quota has been allocated in every department including CSS, Engineering, Medical but there are problems in its implementation. It also happens that the actual rightful person i.e. people with less disability i.e. a person with amputated finger or crooked foot gets a quota seat by making a certificate instead of people with more disability, this matter has to be reviewed. Last year we had demanded that special people should be given representation in the assemblies.
Work is being done in this regard. The senators have compiled a report and sent it to the government, it is hoped that there will be progress in this regard in the upcoming elections. The system of local governments is very important, it has to be established. Inclusion of special people in this system should be ensured so that their deprivations can be solved and problems can be eliminated. This is the message for today’s special people to look at their abilities, not their shortcomings. Build self-confidence in yourself. No one in the world is perfect, some have fewer disabilities, some have more, so don’t let despair get you close, have faith in Allah and make a name for yourself in the world.
Lalaji Saeed Iqbal Mirza
(Quaid-e-Azam Gold Medalist Chairman Special Persons Islamabad)
The International Day of Persons with Disabilities is celebrated worldwide on 3 December. On this day, rallies, public and private events are organized at all levels. It is a pity that on this day the government and other sections of the society including NGOs only talk, no work is done throughout the year. In 1980, we got the then President of Pakistan, General Zia-ul-Haq, to approve 1 percent quota for people with disabilities. I myself am a special person, but since that time I have been doing honorary work for special people. It is easy to set an example, but it is difficult to be an example. In the local government bill of 2022, 1 percent quota was allocated for special persons, but it is not included in the bill presented in 2025.
There are reserved seats for minorities, women, youth and farmers but there is no seat for 2 crore special persons. Ignoring us is beyond comprehension. We request all the authorities including Chief Minister Punjab Maryam Nawaz Sharif to allocate a seat for special persons in the Local Government Act. Special people should not be used only for photo session or assistance, if these people will become a part of the local government, come to the assemblies, then their importance will increase and their voice will be stronger.
Chief Minister Punjab is bringing good plans, so she should increase her good name by giving representation to special persons in local government system. The person who has NADRA card with monogram of special person, should get courage card and not be trapped in the cycle of calls. It’s a lottery affair, which to me is the modern form of begging. We have been demanding for the last 15 years that Government Special Education Center Lala Musa should be given the status of High School. Children get education up to middle school, but beyond that, parents do not send their children far away because there is no school. If this school is made up to matriculation, it will be beneficial. We also pay tribute to Dr. Khalid Jameel Big Brother who raises voice for special children and individuals at every forum. Among special persons who are retired pensioners.
Their pension should be transferred to their servant after their lifetime, with the condition that the pension should be given to whomever the special person nominates, thus both the special person and the servant will be benefited. President of Pakistan Asif Ali Zardari and Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, who are the chairman of the Standing Committee on Human Rights, have requested that special persons be represented in the local government system and allocated at least one seat. This should be done not only in one province but across the country. Giving a seat to special persons will not burden the resources but it will benefit the people.
