Begum Samina Alvi for promoting differently abled persons in every sphere of life

LAHORE, Dec 15, (SABAH): First Lady Begum Samina Arif Alvi has emphasized the need for practical measures to eliminate discriminatory attitude towards differently abled people and promote their social and financial inclusion in every sphere of the life.

She was talking to the office bearers of the Hum Mashal-e-Rah (HMR) Foundation after visiting its project Maskan in Nasheman on Thursday. Social Welfare and Bait-ul-Mal Department is also collaborating in the project. Begum Samina Alvi called for joint efforts from all stakeholders for bringing positive change in people’s behavior towards differently abled persons in society and promoting their inclusion and accessibility in the practical fields. She urged people to not disrespect or ridicule such persons but encourage and support their participation in educational, social and economic activities.

Begum Samina Arif Alvi appreciated the collaboration of the social welfare department and non-governmental organization (NGOs) for empowerment of special children as it was the need of the hour. Public and private organizations were working together for their facilitation, education and protection of their rights, she remarked.

She mentioned that there was a dire need to focus on equipping the special children with market oriented technical and vocational skills and professional training so that they instead of relying on others could be able to earn their livelihood and become productive part of society and play their due role in development and prosperity of the country.

She said that more than 10 percent of Pakistan’s population comprised of persons with disabilities, and needed to be turned into active and productive members of society by imparting education and skills as per requirements of the market and industries. She urged on promotion of policies aimed at inclusion of differently abled persons.

Begum Samina Alvi said that besides tradition education, focus on equipping the special children with market oriented technical and vocational skills and professional training was  needed to enable them to be  productive part of the society by utilizing their capabilities and play due role in development and prosperity of the country.

She was of the view that it was essential for sustainable development of the country that inclusiveness must be promoted and participation of differently abled persons be ensured in all social, economic and political activities as a huge segment of the population of Pakistan was facing disability in different forms.

She stressed upon the print, electronic and social media to spread awareness and promote the idea of inclusion of differently abled persons and avoid use of inappropriate language against them.

Earlier, HMR Chairperson Amnah Aftab briefed the First Lady about working, performance, training courses and initiatives taken for rehabilitation of special children. “We are working towards accessibility of persons with disabilities in public places such as buildings, metros, railway stations, bus stations, markets, and washrooms to make their movement easy and accessible,” she explained.