President Asif Ali Zardari on Friday said disabled people were special in their own and stressed the need for society to structure itself in a way that meet the needs of all such citizens. In a message read out at the Disabled Women Conference organised by the Pakistan Disabled Foundation, President Zardari urged the government to take urgent steps to attend to the needs of special people.
The President urged the government to ensure that all new development projects were disabled-friendly and also to consider carrying out modifications wherever possible in the buildings already in place to make those accessible to special persons. He said access to all public buildings, parks, transport and public places was the right of persons suffering from disabilities.
It was therefore necessary to create barrier-free environment for the disabled persons for their integration in the society, he said. He said that human will and determination can conquer any disability. "There are many examples that show that disabilities have not stood in the way of men and women possessing will and determination.
Will can and has conquered all disabilities," the President said in his message. Paying tributes to the participants the President said the conference itself was a demonstration of their determination that they will not let any disability stand in their way.
The President called upon the conference to suggest ways and means to achieve the same standard as exists in other civilised nations of the world in ensuring the rights of the special people particularly the women. The President also commended the Pakistan Disabled Foundation, its Chairman Shahid Ahmed Memon for organising the conference and for contributing for the special people in best possible manner.