ISLAMABAD: President Dr Arif Alvi stressed upon need for comprehensive and effective awareness campaign to highlight the rights of Persons with Disabilities (PWDs).

He emphasised upon steps for bringing behavioural changes in society and removing of psychological and physical barriers in PWDs’ mainstreaming and their financial and economic empowerment as equal members of society.

During a presentation on plans for an awareness campaign on Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) given by Press Secretary to President Qamar Bashir at Aiwan-e-Sadr president said that Persons with Disabilities or Differently Abled Persons (DAPs) constituted an important segment of population and it was duty of relevant stakeholders and society in general to ensure their inclusiveness in all aspects of life, including political, economic, finance, business, trade and services. He called for removing psychological and physical barriers to realise full potential of PWDs and creating enabling conditions for PWDs to help them become productive members of society.

There was need to relook at their attitudes towards DAPs and bring proactive reforms in education system from grassroots level to educate students at all levels regarding rights of DAPs and obligations and responsibilities of society to stop stereotyping them, stop name-calling, harassment or intimidation of DAPs which were biggest impediment towards inclusiveness of DAPs as fully empowered and productive member of society.

He said that media, both conventional and social had always been at forefront to inform, educate and entertain people and enjoyed vast reach to urban, rural and unprivileged populations in underserved areas. 

He said that these media products might sensitise relevant stakeholders and general public to remove social barriers, ensure their inclusion and mainstreaming and create harassment and discrimination-free enabling environment for DAPs. He urged upon need to make websites of public and private sector institutions accessible and PWD-friendly. First Lady, Begum Samina Arif Alvi and senior officials of President’s Secretariat also attended meeting.

Published in The Daily National Courier, November, 29 2022

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