KARACHI/HYDERABAD: Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah on Wednesday observed International Day of Persons with Disabilities with enthusiasm. The day is globally observed every year on December 3.
The CM cut a cake with special persons and virtually inaugurated C-Arts in Larkana, as well as Dr Ruth Pfau MALC-DEPD centres in Larkana and Badin.
The event was organised by the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPD) at Al-Noor Park, Clifton, in which DEPD Secretary Tauha Farooqui highlighted the Sindh government’s dedication to transforming global calls for social progress — such as those voiced at the Second World Summit for Social Development in Doha — into tangible local actions.
The event was attended by provincial ministers, advisers, special assistants, spokespersons, provincial secretaries, and civil society members in large numbers.
The speaker pledged a future where all the citizens had the opportunity to thrive in an inclusive province.
The CM’s address reflected the United Nations theme, “Fostering disability-inclusive societies for advancing social progress,” and emphasised that development should be measured not only by economics but also by compassion and equality.
“A society’s advancement is gauged not merely by economic metrics, but by its compassion and equity toward all members, who must enjoy equal chances to engage, innovate and excel. We gather with great purpose to reaffirm our shared resolve to forge a just, inclusive, and barrier-free society for every citizen,” the CM said.
The speech outlined strategic efforts for the empowerment of persons with disabilities such as distributing essential assistive devices - such as wheelchairs, tricycles and hearing aids - in Karachi, Hyderabad, Larkana and Shaheed Benazirabad.
The CM recalled that a major achievement was the recent opening of Pakistan’s largest Centre of Excellence for Disability Inclusion in Korangi. The 34,000-square-foot facility served as a hub for vocational training in IT, textiles, and culinary arts, and offered rehabilitation services and wheelchair manufacturing.
Shah also announced plans for an ‘Inclusive City’ near the Malir Expressway, demonstrating dedication to integrated urban accessibility.
He said these measures aimed to enforce the Sindh Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities Act 2018, which guaranteed access to education, health, employment and public services, and a five per cent job quota for people with disabilities in government roles.
Shifting from policy to culture, the CM called for breaking ingrained biases, stressing that true inclusion required a cultural shift to eradicate attitudinal barriers. He emphasised that mobility, education, health care, sports and jobs must be recognised as fundamental rights.
The achievements of youth with disabilities — in the Special Olympics, entrepreneurship, and innovation — were highlighted as proof that determination overcomes physical limitations.
The event concluded on a personal note as the CM warmly interacted with children with disabilities and their parents, visited organisational stalls, and took photographs, further demonstrating his commitment.
“Let us unite government bodies, private firms, NGOs, and communities to prioritise accessibility in physical spaces, digital platforms, and society,” the CM said. He added that the Sindh government remained committed to supporting a disability-inclusive province, where every individual contributed to Pakistan’s progress.
“Together, no one will be left behind,” he concluded.
Awareness walk
An awareness walk was held at the Circuit House Hyderabad on International Day of Persons with Disabilities to promote rights, welfare and social inclusion of persons with disabilities.
Speaking on the occasion, Hyderabad Commissioner Fayyaz Hussain Abbasi said the aim of the walk was to highlight the importance of ensuring full participation of persons with disabilities in society and encourage the public to contribute to this cause.
He noted that children with disabilities were blessed with unique abilities, and parents and teachers should play a crucial role in helping them realise their potential so they could contribute effectively to the country’s development.
Hyderabad Deputy Commissioner Zain-ul-Aabideen Memon said it was the collective responsibility of society to provide an environment where persons with disabilities could participate with dignity in all the spheres of life, including education, employment, health care, transportation and social activities.
He added that the government and district administration were taking practical measures in this regard and had established special schools under public initiatives.
Hyderabad Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities Regional Director Imtiaz Ahmed Khan said the department was consistently working to improve rehabilitation services and facilities for persons with disabilities, and efforts to enhance service delivery were under way.
