The disabled persons have the same fundamental rights as their fellow citizens and they are entitled to the measures designed to enable them to become as self-reliant as possible, hence their special needs must be taken into consideration at all stages of economic and social planning.
Labard President Pervaiz Malik expressed these views while speaking at a regional conference on building bye-laws for buildings for special children jointly organised by Pakistan Environmental Planning and Architectural Consultants Limited and the Directorate General of Special Education, Govt of Pakistan, here on Thursday.
Pervaiz Malik said that the environment for the disabled persons is not as conducive as it should be and attitudinal barriers prevent the ease of mobility, movement and access. He said that the plight of disabled persons was long recognised by the comity of nations resulting in the "Declaration on the Rights of Disabled Persons" that was proclaimed by the United Nations on December 9, 1976.
According to him, we must not forget that disability is not confined to physical condition of a person.
It also means visual, hearing and mental deficiencies and disorders. Therefore, our building laws must take cognisance of all the 4 disabilities. Imran Shaukat of Pakistan Environmental of Pakistan Environmental Planning and Architectural Consultants Limited also spoke on the occasion.