The government should reserve seats for the disabled in the National Assembly and Senate with an increase of quota, which at present is merely 2 percent. This was stated by Senator Rukhsana Zuberi, Chairperson Pakistan Engineering Council (PEC), here on Wednesday.
While addressing the 3-days conference under the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, organised by Pakistan Association of the Blind (PAB) in collaboration with Asian Blind Union (ABU).
"White-Cane Safety Day", which is observed globally on October 15 as international day of the blind. Zuberi said that she would take up the issue to the President and the Prime Minister to enhance the share of disabled in all walks of life in order to make them equal with other citizens of the country. She said that the government would make maximum efforts to provide education and rehabilitation services to the partially sighted and blind members of the society. Addressing the conference Dr Israr Shah from Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) who lost his legs in a bomb blast said that he would render his services for the betterment of disabled.
Javed Akhtar, Director General, National Book Foundation (NBF) who had prepared Quran in brail for the blind said that he was working on such other projects as well specially preparation of text books for the blind was his major area of interest. At the end a unanimous resolution was passed, which demanded of the government to assign the special advisory of special education to Dr Israr Shah.
Dr Israr Shah PPP, Director General Special Education, Naeem Khalid, Taj Wali Director Special Education, Chairman Pakistan Association of Blind Shah Mehmood, Director General, NBF, Javed Akhtar and Managing Director Special Education Aftab Ahmad were also present on the occasion.