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he third Global Disability Summit held in Berlin in April 2025 marked a key moment for global disability rights advocacy. It served as both a comprehensive review of progress made over recent decades and a platform for stakeholders to chart the path forward toward truly inclusive societies for persons with disabilities.
One of the key outcomes was the adoption of the Amman-Berlin Declaration on Global Disability Inclusion, endorsed by more than 80 governments and organisations. The declaration establishes a concrete target: ensuring that at least 15 percent of the development projects at country level focus on disability inclusion, aligning with the fact that persons with disabilities make up 15 percent of the global population - around 1.3 billion people.
The timing of this declaration is crucial. It emerges amid shrinking aid for inclusion and other development programmes. By establishing the “15 percent for the 15 percent” principle, the declaration aims to close the persistent gap in development planning while emphasising the need for meaningful engagement of persons with disabilities and their representative organisations).
The summit also acknowledged a familiar challenge, that while global meetings consistently produce promises and commitments, the real test lies in whether and how governments implement those.
Against this backdrop, Pakistan’s participation in the Global Disability Summit demonstrated the country’s deepening national resolve to uphold equity, dignity and inclusion. Led by Minister of State for National Health Services, Dr Mukhtar Ahmad Bharath, Pakistan’s delegation brought both substance and vision to the proceedings.
In his address during a key session on health equity, Dr Bharath said that Pakistan’s engagement at GDS must transcend experience sharing and contribute to a global movement rooted in justice and the recognition that inclusion is a basic right, not charity.
This philosophical stance is backed by concrete actions Pakistan has already undertaken. The country has integrated rehabilitation services into the upcoming National Health and Population Policy (2025–2034) and implemented job quotas for persons with disabilities. Pakistan has also supported Special Olympics initiatives and expanded special education and rehabilitation institutions. Ongoing collaborations with global partners like the WHO and the UNICEF in regions such as Khyber Pakhunkhwa, Balochistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir further underline the country’s commitment to building inclusive systems at the grassroots level.
One of Pakistan’s most significant achievements in disability-inclusive development has been addressing a critical data gap. Through the advocacy efforts of Sightsavers and its allies at Community Based Inclusive Development Network disability-specific questions were included in Pakistan’s national population census of 2023 and the Pakistan Social and Living Standard Measurement survey of 2020.
This milestone represents more than statistical progress; it provides the evidence base necessary for informed policy-making and inclusive planning. The successful integration of disability data into these national surveys has set a strong precedent for other data collection processes, including the Labour Force Survey, Annual School Census and SDG Indicator data collection. While these processes and tools require further refinement and capacity building, they mark a fundamental shift toward evidence-based disability inclusion.
The summit reinforced a crucial principle that Pakistan as well as other nations must embrace: disability inclusion cannot be treated as a standalone issue. Instead, it must be embedded across all sectors of development—from health and education to employment and governance. This requires a shift in thinking at the policy level, where disability must be mainstreamed into every national development agenda, strategy and backed by dedicated resources, budget lines and monitoring mechanisms.
Central to this approach is recognising the leadership role of persons with disabilities and the involvement of Organisations of Persons with Disabilities in all planning and decision-making processes. They are not merely stakeholders; they are rights-holders whose lived experiences and voices must shape how solutions are crafted. Stronger collaboration with OPDs is essential to ensure that inclusion is both meaningful and sustainable.
The summit’s discussions extended beyond policy frameworks to address the practical realities of inclusion. Dedicated side events – such as the Inclusive Futures consortium event which shared six principles to achieve inclusive development – highlighted the importance of accessible and disability-inclusive infrastructure, that not only includes physical infrastructure but also information technology and affordable, accessible assistive technologies.
OPDs emphasised during these discussions that while policy intentions are important, inclusion will ultimately be measured by what persons with disabilities experience in their daily lives. This means ensuring people can access public transport, attend school, visit a health facility or seek employment without barriers. The summit recognised that true inclusion requires overcoming both systemic barriers and societal attitudes through public awareness and inclusive communication.
As delegates departed Berlin, the message was clear: this gathering must represent a turning point rather than simply another international meeting. For Pakistan, this means building upon its demonstrated commitment to translate summit pledges into concrete actions.
The application of the “15 percent for the 15 percent” principle in national development planning offers Pakistan a framework to strengthen its resolve and ensure targeted impact. However, this represents only the beginning of a long journey. The true measure of success will be how Pakistan fulfils its commitments, maintains accountability and shares its progress with the global community.
Pakistan has positioned itself to emerge as a regional leader in disability inclusion, backed by strong leadership, evolving policies and growing collective will. The challenge now lies in maintaining momentum, strengthening systems and maintaining a relentless focus on results that improve the lives of persons with disabilities.
The writer is Director Pakistan & Middle East, Sightsavers