AsiaNet-Pakistan Premier Editorial Content and Press Release Distribution Service
Islamabad, January 11, 2013 (PPI-OT): A delegation of Special Talent Exchange Programme led by the President (STEP) Mr. Muhammad Atif Sheikh met with Mr. Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar, Advisor to the Prime Minister on Human Rights.
The delegation informed the Advisor about the difficulties faced by the disabled persons in daily life. Responding to the problems faced by the disabled persons the Advisor directed the Ministry of Human Rights to establish a special desk in the Ministry for the disabled. This desk will be given the task of monitoring, legislating and facilitating the matters regarding welfare of the disabled community. The establishment of the desk is being notified today.
The Advisor proposed that an autonomous commission for disabled persons should be in place to cater for the issues of the disabled community in an effective and efficient way, for which the Advisor requested the President (STEP) to submit a draft bill to the Ministry of Human Rights as soon as possible.
Responding to the request of the delegation, the Advisor also assured that the Ministry of Human Rights will support the compilation of the report on Convention on the Rights of People with Disability (CRPD). Pakistan signed this convention in 2011 and the report is due in June 2013.
The delegation also apprised the Advisor about the lengthy procedure for registration with NADRA and acquiring disability certificate. The Advisor said that in order to make the registration procedure of disabled persons simple and quick, the matter will be taken up with Chairman NADRA and the concerned authorities.
The Advisor to the Prime Minister on Human Rights Mr. Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar reiterated that the disabled persons whether they are male, female or children are important individuals of our society and we must make sincere efforts for improving their lives. In order to create awareness among the parliamentarians about the issues of the disabled persons, the Advisor directed to write a letter to the Speaker National Assembly to hold a seminar on the disabled persons in the Parliament House.
In order to pave the way of dispensing all the granted rights to disabled persons, the Advisor also directed to write letters to all the Ministries and the Establishment Division to provide data regarding facilities and benefits dispensed to the disabled persons.
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