Govt to provide barrier-free environment for disabled
By Bushra Makhdoom

ISLAMABAD—Ministry of Social Welfare and Special Education is committed to provide an enabling environment that would allow full realisation of the potential of disabled persons through their inclusive mainstreaming.
In this regard, the Ministry had organized a number of dialogues and seminars to finalise recommendations for designing manual, model projects and building bye-laws report for creation of barrier-free environment for challenged persons, official told APP here Friday.
He said a National Plan of Action has already been launched for implementation of the policy for welfare of THE disabled.
He said that one of the major thrust areas of this plan i disabled-friendly physical environment, which include physical access, transportation, communication and employment. As a first step, five major cities including Islamabad, Lahore, Karachi, Quetta and Peshawar have been declared disabled-friendly cities and necessary modifications in the already constructed infrastructure are underway in collaboration with the CDA and Provincial/District governments, he added.
The Ministry has set up a network of Special Education Centres in the country to impart special and skill-oriented education so that they (disabled) may not depend upon others and run their self dependent life, he added.
He said, we have also launched specific programmes for training and education of disabled as they are willing to contribute to economic, political and cultural life of their communities.
He said efforts are underway to develop a database of NGOs to mobilize them to work for the welfare of challenged persons.