Wheel Chair Distribution Ceremony held at NDF-Office Nawabshah

On January 20th 2010, Nawabshah Disability Forum (NDF), a member organisation of NOWPDP, organised a ceremony to distribute resources to persons with disabilities, including wheel chairs, clothes and Special Computerized National Identity Cards (CNICs). The event was held at the NDF office, where hundreds of persons with disabilities and leading community figures attended.

The Chief Guest Mr. Jamal Mustafa Syed, DCO Shaheed Benazir Abad, gave a moving address that spoke of persons with disabilities as proud citizens of society with the ability to achieve their ambitions and live their lives with dignity. He praised the services of NDF speaking of the organisation’s achievements at the international and national level. Congratulating NDF members on drawing attention towards the disability community he pledged DCO's full co-operation and promised to ensure the fulfilment of their job quota and solutions to other issues people with disabilities are facing.

Mr. Abid Lashari, President Nawabshah Disability Forum, spoke of equal rights for persons with disabilities as a key element of human rights. Praising NDF's vision of a barrier free and rights based society he noted that people with disabilities have the potential to undertake all tasks in life if they are offered the opportunity to do so. In line with this he demanded authorities provide facilities and discounted fares according to individual's CNICs. He highlighted the fact that currently the 2% quota for employing people with disabilities is not being implemented in either the public or private sector and there is a need for improved accessibility for people with disabilities in all public offices and buildings. Mr Lashari spoke of the need to create a friendly environment for people with disabilities that recognised the vital role they play in the development of society.

Mr. Saleh Biloo, Ms. Samina Bhatti, Ms. Benazir Unar, Irfan Keerio, Ameer Lashari, Madad Ali Brohi, Muhammad Usman Bhutto, Pir Bux Jamali and others also spoke on the occasion.

A copy of this article can also be found at: http://www.nowpdp.org/News/10/wheelchair-dist-ndf-Nawabshah.aspx


*Nawabshah Disability Forum (NDF), a member of NOWPDP, helps people with disabilities in rural Sindh, Pakistan. The organisation, run primarily by people with disabilities, aims to create a barrier-free rights-based society and economic sustainability for Persons with Disabilities.

More information on NDF can be found at: http://www.danishkadah.org.pk/networks/NDF/