BY: Abid lashari
Pakistan joined the global community today in observing the International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPD), with events across Sindh highlighting this year’s theme: “Opportunity and Challenge: Advancing Disability Inclusion in Pakistan.” The day focused on strengthening disability rights, improving service delivery, and accelerating the implementation of disability laws.
Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPD) Sindh, the Sindh Persons with Disabilities Protection Authority (SPDPA), organizations of persons with Disabilities and civil society representatives, participate in seminars, awareness walks, and community interactions to mark the day.
The Sindh Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities Act 2018, a comprehensive law guaranteeing rights related to education, rehabilitation, employment, health care, accessibility, and independent living. Strengthened disability registration and certification systems by SPDPA Authority. District-level monitoring committees to support inclusive development. Increasing enforcement of the 5% reserved job quota for persons with disabilities. Expansion of accessibility audits in public buildings, transport facilities, and educational institutions. However, ongoing challenges in full implementation, particularly in rural districts, and emphasized the need for collaborative action with civil society and the private sector. DEPD Sindh highlightes the province’s growing investment in services for children and adults with disabilities, including the large-scale distribution of assistive devices such as wheelchairs, hearing aids, and learning aids, upgrades to special education schools, vocational centers, and therapy units. Strengthened coordination with organizations of persons with disabilities across the province. Civil society partners continue to fill critical service gaps. NDF Pakistan’s Network of Rehabilitation Centers is one of exemple. The National Disability & Development Forum (NDF) operates major rehabilitation centers in:
Nawabshah, Larkana
Hyderabad. These centers provide free physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, remedial education, and counseling to hundreds of children from underserved communities.
PDSA Pakistan’s Support for Children with Down Syndrome. The Pakistan Down Syndrome Association (PDSA) runs specialized rehabilitation centers in Gulistan-e-Johar, Karachi and Gulshan-e-Hadeed, Karachi
The centers offer early intervention, special education, and family support services specifically for children with Down syndrome and related intellectual disabilities.
Government Support for Organizations of Persons with Disabilities is a commendable step and the real means of empowerment. Sindh’s commitment to providing financial and technical support to Organizations of Persons with Disabilities (OPDs), enabling them to contribute to policy development, accessibility efforts, and community awareness. The government emphasized that the inclusion of OPDs reflects the global disability principle of “Nothing About Us Without Us.”
Sindh province aims to accelerate progress toward inclusive education, better health care, accessible infrastructure, and increased employment opportunities under the 5% quota.
Sindh’s leadership reiterated its sincerity and long-term dedication to disability rights, calling for joint efforts from communities, service providers, and development partners. “With collective commitment, the Sindh Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities Act 2018 will become a living reality”. Hope never dies and a hope that the persons with disabilities in the province will achieve full participation, dignity, independence, and opportunity.
