JI Chief Sirajul Haq for separate ministries for special persons

LAHORE:Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) ameer Senator Sirajul Haq has demanded establishment of separate ministries at federal and provincial levels for the welfare and mainstreaming of disabled persons.

Special quota for differently abled persons must be fixed in the Senate, National Assembly and local government institutions to bring them into mainstream and turned into productive citizens, he said while addressing a ceremony to mark “International Day of Disabled Persons” at Mansoorah on Tuesday.

JI Secretary General Ameerul Azim and other leaders also attended the ceremony. Siraj distributed wheelchairs, white canes and hearing aids among the special persons on the occasion.

He said Pakistan could have as many as 5.3 million people with disabilities and 65 percent among them lived in rural areas. Punjab, he said, made half of the disabled persons’ total number.

He said there was an urgent need to take steps to address the problems faced by them. Senator Siraj asked the government to establish special departments in hospitals for disable people and provide them free of cost mobility aids and equipments. He said the government should establish educational institutions equipped with modern technology for the education and training of special children.

The JI ameer called for setting up special desks in Benazir Income Support Program, Pakistan Baitualmal and Usher and Zakat Department for disabled persons. Similarly, he said, the government should announce 40 percent concession on the prices of food items at utility stores for them.

He said all the daily wagers and contractual employees on special quota should be made permanent. He called for 50 percent cut in transport fares for the special persons. He said the government should ensure provision of all basic rights to persons with disabilities to turn the country into welfare state.