PTA contest for firms to form phone software for the disabled

LAHORE

Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) will hold a competition for software companies to prepare a mobile application software to help all kinds of disabled persons in performing necessary functions of everyday life with the help of their mobile phones. 

The application will aim at enabling the people suffering from blindness, deafness or dumbness, etc to live like normal people with the help of mobile phones that could enable them do shopping, selling, submitting utility bills and communicating with other people for everyday matters. 

Talking to The News, Chairman, PTA, Dr Syed Ismail Shah said that this initiative would really be a great step to help out the people with different disabilities. As per Dr Syed Ismail Shah, Chairman PTA said “I’m hoping that there will be support for this cause from all across Pakistan as work on accessibility does not stop with mobile applications. There is so much more that can be done in this field and it all begins with an understanding of the needs of Persons with disabilities.” He said there would be team groups in this competition comprising a professional software engineer, IT students and a disable person, who would guide the team members about their problems and needs. He said that 1st prize of the competition is Rs 200,000 while the runner up would receive Rs 150,000. Moreover, the winner of the competition would also be nominated in the international mobile app competition for its work recognition. 

Chairman, PTA, Dr Ismail added that the said competition is being organised in collaboration with PTA together with Internet Society (ISOC) Bureau, Telenor Pakistan, National ICT R&D Fund, Ministry of Information Technology, Special Talent Exchange Programme, Pakistan Foundation Fighting Blindness, Pakistan Blind Cricket Council and Pakistan Youth Foundation of Deaf and Hard of Hearing has launched the 2016 edition of the Pakistan Mobile App Awards.

The theme for this year’s awards is: “Embracing Mobile Accessibility for Persons with Disabilities in Pakistan” aimed to focus on development of ready-to-use mobile applications addressing needs of Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) in Pakistan.

The said event launching ceremony was held on Wednesday. DG Human Rights, Hassan Mangi, on the occasion remarked: “All UN conventions talk about Human Rights but there is no national body in Pakistan that takes into consideration matters revolving around people with disabilities. This initiative is therefore very crucial and extremely timely.” 

“ICT is the most important ingredient in making a society accessible in all fields of life. Pakistan is one of the leading countries working in the area of ICT accessibility and we hope that this initiative will act as a benchmark for further projects in the country” Muhammad Atif, Director, Special Talent Exchange Programme (STEP) said during the launch.