Ministry of Social Welfare and Special Education is committed to provide an enabling environment that would allow full realisation of the potential of disabled persons through their inclusive mainstreaming.
In this regard, the ministry had organised a number of dialogues and seminars to finalise recommendations for design manual, model projects and building by-laws report for creation of barrier free environment for challenged persons, official told APP here on Monday.
He said that a National Plan of Action had already been launched for effective implementation of the policy for the welfare of disabled persons. He said that one of the major thrust areas of this plan is disabled friendly barrier free physical environment, which include physical access, transportation, communication and employment.
As a first step, five major cities including Islamabad, Lahore, Karachi, Quetta and Peshawar had been declared disabled friendly cities and necessary modifications in the already constructed infrastructure are underway in collaboration with the CDA and provincial/district governments, he added.
The ministry has set up a network of Special Education Centres in the country to impart special and skill oriented education so that they (disabled) may not depend upon others and run their self dependent life, he added.
He said we have also launched specific programmes for training and education of disabled persons as they are willing to contribute to economic, political and cultural life of their communities. He said efforts are underway to develop a database of NGOs to mobilise them to work for the welfare of challenged persons.