News
Tuesday, June 07, 2011
UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
Zardari signs instrument of ratification
* President asks civil society, NGOs, affluent people to assist government in caring for special people
Staff Report
ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari on Monday signed the Instrument of Ratification on UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities at the Presidency at a special ratification ceremony attended by a large number of people with special needs, members of civil society, representatives of NGOs and INGOs and other dignitaries.
The United Nations General Assembly adopted the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in 2006. So far, 148 states have signed and 100 have ratified this important convention. The government of Pakistan signed the Convention on September 25, 2008, and ratified it on Monday.
The president while addressing the gathering on the occasion termed the day as a historic day and said that it was a great pleasure and privilege that the signing and the ratification was happening during the present democratic government’s rule. He said that the Constitution of Islamic Republic of Pakistan guarantees equal rights to all citizens. The teachings of Islam also lay great emphasis on protecting the weak, including orphans, widows, elderly, poor and, above all, the persons with disabilities, he continued. In line with our values and the constitution we will fulfil our responsibility towards the special people, he wowed.
Zardari said that it was our duty to look after and take care of the people with special needs. He said that we all have to work together to fill in the gap created by the nature in some people. He called upon members of civil society, NGOs and affluent people to assist the government in ensuring that the people with special needs are being properly looked after.
The president, in his speech, said that caring for the special people was very close to his heart and he was personally committed to the cause of disabled people. In August, 2009, he recalled, special CNIC scheme for the special persons was launched by him in the Presidency. He said that the aim was to identify special people throughout the country and provide them facilities to live in peace and dignity. These facilities, he said, include importing duty free cars, 50 percent concession in airlines and railways and free medical treatment in the public sector hospitals. So far NADRA has issued 96,000 special CNICs, he said.
The president said that it was also a matter of great pleasure to learn that the Directorate General of Special Education has also taken various initiatives for the welfare of special people. Establishment of Special Education Departments at Allama Iqbal Open University, University of the Punjab and Karachi University, a bill on provision in building codes to give accessibility to special people, construction of Special Education Buildings in main cities, declaring federal capital and provincial headquarters as disabled friendly cities, permission to special persons to appear in CSS exams and establishment of 127 Special Education Centres in main cities were among those initiatives, he said.
The president said that no doubt these were important steps but were not enough as the government wanted to do much more. We will do more, he resolved. Zardari also called upon the federal and provincial governments to carefully review the UN convention and take all necessary steps for the protection and due care of every special person.
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk