ISLAMABAD: President Dr Arif Alvi called for creation of specific jobs for differently-abled people (DAPs) to make them financially independent. He emphasised that DAPs needed to be trained and well-equipped with specific skill sets to make them useful and productive citizens of country.

During meeting with Vice Chairman of Pakistan Foundation Fighting Blindness (PFFB), Dr Anis-ur-Rehman at Aiwan-e-Sadr President said that society should not neglect DAPs, adding that it was collective responsibility of public and private sectors to encourage and support persons with disabilities.

Dr Anis-ur-Rehman apprised President about steps taken by PFFB for welfare of visually-impaired persons in Pakistan.

He said that his organisation had transformed lives of more than 50,000 visually-impaired students and persons at national level, during last ten years, through educational services, capacity-building trainings, awareness campaigns, career counselling, and Assistive Technology.

He highlighted that major challenge being faced by visually-impaired children was lack of hostel facilities particularly for the visually-impaired girls in Islamabad, Gilgit-Baltistan, Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Balochistan.

Meeting was also informed that another major issue being faced by visually-impaired students was non-availability of writers to help them during examinations as these students were unable to write themselves.

President underscored that it was responsibility of government and private sectors to help address issues being faced by visually-impaired people. He stressed need for raising awareness about rights and issues of persons with disabilities to bring positive behavioural change towards them.

Published in The Daily National Courier, April, 06 2023

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