The speakers at a seminar on "Challenges in Education, Welfare and Rehabilitation of the Persons with Hearing Impairment", have stressed the need for implementation of same sign language for the people suffering with hearing impairment, all over Pakistan.
The Lahore Businessmen Association for the Rehabilitation of Disabled Persons (Labard) had organised the seminar at the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry here on Friday. The speakers were of the view that difference in sign language was causing huge difficulties to the hearing impaired people. They urged the federal, provincial and district governments to display signs for the ignored segment of the society at roads, public, and entertainment places to help ease their movement.
Speaking on the occasion, Federal Secretary Ministry of Social Welfare and Special Education Athar Tahir said the government understands the difficulties of disabled persons and had already formed a number of policies to facilitate the disabled persons.
He informed that a national seminar on "Sign Language" would be arranged in the month of March. Many national and international experts would attend the seminar. The ministry would also form a task force on vocational & technical training for the disabled persons, he added.
Muhammad Pervez Malik in his speech threw light on aims and objectives of the seminar and said that the seminar was arranged to create awareness regarding early detection of hearing impairment, significance of early screening at local level, education and employment opportunities for the hearing impaired, standardisation of the sign language and problems faced by the hearing impaired people.
He said that Punjab government was ensuring implementation of 2 percent quota prescribed for disables. The provincial government believes to serve the masses and has taken radical measures to strengthen the health and education sectors of Punjab province, he maintained. He further said that free of cost medicines and dialysis facilities are being provided in government hospitals while Punjab government is installing generators and air-conditioners in the general wards so that the common man could feel as a respectable citizen.
Responding to the participants, Malik said that Punjab government was giving special attention on infrastructure development as it plays vital role in the development and prosperity of any country.
Former Chairman Special Education Dr Abdul Hameed, ENT Specialist Fatima Memorial Hospital Dr Saeed Chohan, Audiologist Dr Abid Saeed, Principal Hamza Foundation Rabia Arif Muhammad Saeed Khan, Ahmer Malik, Ahmad Shafiq, Mian Nusratud Din besides representatives of various government and private institutions, also spoke on the occasion.