Rights of disabled persons, President Signs instrument of ratification on

UN Convention:
President Asif Ali Zardari signed the Instrument of Ratification on UN Convention on the
Rights of Persons with Disabilities at (President House) at a special ceremony attended by
persons with special needs, members of civil society, NGOs and INGOs. The United Nations
General Assembly adopted the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in
2006. So far, 148 states have signed and 100 have ratified this significant convention. The
Government of Pakistan signed the convention on September 25, 2008.
Addressing the gathering, the President termed the day as historic and said that it was a
great delight and privilege that the signing and the ratification was taking place during the
present democratic government. The President said the Constitution of Pakistan assurance
equal rights to all citizens. The teachings of Islam also lay great stress on protecting the
weak including orphans, widows, elderly, poor and, above all, the persons with disabilities,
he continued.
In order with our values and the Constitution we will accomplish our responsibility towards
the special people, he is determined. The President said, It was our obligation to look after
and take care of the people with special needs. We all have to work together to fill in the
gap created by the nature in some people. He called upon members of civil society, NGOs
and wealthy people to help the government in ensuring that the people with special needs
are being properly looked after.
President Zardari said caring for the special people was incredibly close to his heart and he
was personally committed to the cause of disabled people. In August, 2009, he recalled,
special CNIC scheme for the special persons was launched by him in the Presidency. He said
the aim, aspire was to identify special people throughout the country and provide them
facilities to live in peace and dignity. These facilities include importing duty free cars, 50%
concession in airlines and railways and free medical treatment in public sector hospitals. So
far NADRA has issued 96,000 Special CNICs, he added.
The President said it was also a matter of great pleasure to learn that the Directorate
General of Special Education has also taken a variety of initiatives for the welfare of special
people. Establishment of Special Education Departments at Allama Iqbal Open University,
University of the Punjab and Karachi University, bill on provision in building codes to provide
accessibility to special people, construction of Special Education buildings in main cities.