Let us reaffirm our duty to label all products in markets with Braille: President Alvi

ISLAMABAD, Jan 04 (SABAH): President Dr. Arif Alvi has said that let us reaffirm our duty to label all products in markets with Braille and ensure the reach of visually impaired persons to resources like Web Pages, social media sites, emails and other means of electronic communication, education and entertainment by integrating text-to-speech and audiobook technology into smartphones and computers.

This was stated by President Dr. Arif Alvi in his message on the occasion of World Braille Day observed on Wednesday. President Dr. Arif Alvi said that today, Pakistan commemorates World Braille Day with the rest of the world to raise awareness of the importance of Braille as a means of communication for blind and partially sighted people in the full realization of their human rights.

He said that the United Nations General Assembly declared the 4th of January as the International Day to commemorate Braille and to mark the birthday of Louis Braille, creator of this writing system which later became a prime tool for acquiring education, knowledge, and information for the visually impaired persons around the globe.

President Dr. Arif Alvi said today, we aim to raise public awareness about Braille as a writing system for blind and partially sighted persons and to re-pledge our commitment to provide important information in accessible formats in audio and Braille format to all the visually impaired persons to enable them to enjoy their lives, help them remain safe while navigating public places, and provide necessary information to them about diseases and disasters.

“We also affirm our resolve to ensure the permeation of Braille in all our systems to enable the visually impaired persons to enjoy hassle-free access to health care, education, and employment opportunities, enjoy the freedom of expression and opinion and social inclusion, as reflected in Article 2 of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities to which Pakistan is a signatory” President Dr. Arif Alvi said.

He said that this day also reminds us to use Braille for imparting education, knowledge and information to the visually impaired persons which in turn will ensure their economic and financial empowerment, create resilience in them against poverty, marginalization, violence, neglect and abuse and give them the access to water, sanitation and hygiene, health care, mental health and psycho-social support and an inclusive workplace.

“Let us also ensure the spread of knowledge and information and sensitize the general public on preventive means and ways to avoid visual impairment as according to WHO half of the incidents of blindness can be reduced by taking necessary precautionary measures” he said. “Let us make our country more inclusive and accessible and let us pledge to leave no one behind!” President Dr. Arif Alvi said.