Disability Access News

Daily Times Pakistan Sunday, May 18, 2008

By Ijaz Kakakhel

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani said Saturday that the government has committed to include disabled persons in the development process and empower them through skill development and capacity building.

“The government will take more steps for the welfare of persons with disabilities and through little efforts, these persons could be made a productive part of the society,” PM said. He was addressing a seminar on ‘World Telecom Day’. Prime Minister formally inaugurated the new service ‘PTCL Smart’ and distributed awards to the winners of essay competition organised by Wateen Telecom.

According to PM, Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) sector was considered as an engine for overall socio-economic development all over the world.

However, the benefits of the advancement in this sector were yet to trickle down. It was therefore, responsibility of the government to ensure that the ICT are used to empower all segments of society.

“We are fully committed to extend the fruits of these advancements to our entire population, irrespective of their social status and geographical location,” the PM maintained.

“This Day is significant because of the thought provoking theme, ‘Connecting Persons with Disabilities: ICT Opportunities for All.’ The theme was even more relevant to Pakistan in perspective of the October 8, 2005 earthquake, which resulted in increase of Persons With Disabilities (PWDs).

He said special education institutions needed to develop special tools, software and training programmes for Persons With Disabilities.

Such programme would not only improve their lives but also allow them to get due share of employment opportunities.

The prime minister said access to global information resource centers through information and communication technologies had increased the productivity of human resources. These Technologies could also serve the cause of taking the persons with disabilities into the mainstream human resources. They must be helped to explore and employ these technologies for self-reliance. Capacity building measures with specialized training could transform the lives, especially for persons with disabilities. The information society had great potential of home-based job and e-business opportunities that need little mobility of human resource.

“I am optimistic the initiatives of ITU and the Government of Pakistan will mark the beginning of a new era, an era of “ICT opportunities for all” and “empowerment of every citizen with information and knowledge,” the prime minister added.

Gilani appreciated the ministry for initiating a consultation process in collaboration with ministry of social welfare and special education, ERRA and NGOs.