Sindh Assembly adopts law allowing driving licences to people with hearing impairment

The Sindh Assembly on Friday passed 'the Sindh Motor Vehicle (Amendment) Bill 2019' to permit people with hearing impairment to drive freely and obtain license without a fee.

For the first time now the deaf persons can obtain a driving license to run their vehicles on roads without depending on others. The hearing impaired people will require to equip their vehicles with certain devices to hear horns and sound of ambulance sirens with prescribed automotive and window panes.

"On this historic day, we congratulate the special persons and this is an honour for us," Dr Azra Fazal Pechuho told the house, where a delegation of special persons was also sitting in the gallery. She said that the concerned authority will also issue a special sticker for the vehicles of people with hearing and speaking constraints for recognition. "The society will have to take care of these people," she added.

MQM's Rana Ansar lauded the Sindh Assembly for tabling such a bill in the house, saying that the country's other assemblies can also follow suit. "This is an honour for us," she added. Opposition leader in the house, Firdous Shamim Naqvi of PTI proposed that the government should waive the license fee for the special persons, which was made part of the bill through an amendment. He sought a special sign for the vehicles of special persons.

PTI's Shahzad Qureshi said that the government should evolve policies to make exceptionally able people a part of the working society. He demanded of the federal and provincial government to increase the employment quota for the special persons.

Mangla Sharma of MQM hoped the legislation will help the special persons to become a part of the mainstream society, while PTI's Dr Seema Zia asked for implementation of employment quota for them.

The house also adopted a resolution unanimously to pay homage to the founder of Sikhism -Baba Guru Nanak- on his birthday. The resolution was tabled by Nand Kumar, GDA's legislator, which received support from across the house, who while paying homage said that Baba Guru Nanak gave a message of peace to the world.

Mangla Sharma said that Pakistan has done a historic job by opening the Kartarpur Corridor for Sikh pilgrims. Dewan Sachal of PTI said that Prime Minister, Imran Khan created a history by founding the Kartarpur Corridor. Dr Azra Pechuho wished greetings to the Sikh community across the globe on Baba Guru Nanak birthday. The resolution was adopted unanimously.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2019