Shangla – Adviser to the Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa for Social Welfare, Ushr & Zakat and Women Development, Malik Liaqat Ali Khan, on Friday said that the provincial government is taking practical steps to address the problems faced by persons with disabilities and ensure the provision of basic facilities to them in government departments, hospitals, educational institutions and public transport.
He announced that no fee would be charged from persons with disabilities for OPD slips at hospitals, while steps would be taken to reserve special seats for them in public transport and provide a 50 percent concession on fares. He also announced the activation of a rehabilitation centre in Shangla.
He expressed these views while addressing a special Open Court (Khuli Kachehri) organised by the Social Welfare Department, District Shangla, to hear the problems faced by persons with disabilities.
A large number of persons with disabilities from across the district attended the Open Court. Director Social Welfare Saleh Muhammad, District Officer Social Welfare Saleem Zada, ADC Finance Umar Bin Aziz, Assistant Commissioner Alpurai Abdul Qayyum, Social Welfare Officer Ehsan Ahmed, officers from other line departments, and local and senior PTI leaders were also present.
During the Open Court, persons with disabilities directly presented their problems and difficulties to the Adviser and the district administration. The participants said that facilities for persons with disabilities in Shangla district were almost non-existent and that they faced difficulties not only in their daily lives but also in accessing services from government institutions.
They highlighted the non-availability of schools for children with disabilities, difficulties in obtaining Himmat Cards, Sahara Cards and Ehsaas Cards, and the lack of educational facilities for children at Darul Aman, as well as for blind and deaf children. They also raised several other issues.
The participants complained that proper facilities and accessibility arrangements for persons with disabilities were not available in government hospitals and offices, causing them severe hardship. They demanded effective implementation of the two percent quota for persons with disabilities in government jobs, provision of facilities in educational institutions, and resolution of other basic issues.
Malik Liaqat listened to the problems in detail and issued orders for the immediate resolution of several issues. Some matters were resolved on the spot, while assurances were given that other issues would be addressed on a priority basis. He directed the concerned officers to ensure that persons with disabilities faced no difficulties in accessing government facilities and that effective measures were taken to resolve their problems.
He made it clear that no OPD slip fee would be charged from persons with disabilities at hospitals in future. He directed the administration to hold a special meeting with transporters across the district and take practical steps to reserve special seats for persons with disabilities in every public transport vehicle and provide them with a half-fare concession.
The Social Welfare Department also announced a special campaign to collect comprehensive data on persons with disabilities in the district. According to officials, under the Widow Fund, Rs60,000 each had been paid to 305 of 321 widows, while under the Mustaqbil Ration Card programme, ration had been provided to 102 of 193 deserving persons.
During the Adviser’s visit to Shangla, the Child Protection Unit, established with the support of UNICEF at the Social Welfare Office in District Shangla, was formally inaugurated. The concerned authorities briefed him on the establishment of the unit, its services and measures being taken for child protection.
