ISLAMABAD: President Dr. Arif Alvi on Monday stressed upon the need for an all-inclusive and effective awareness drive to highlight the rights of Persons with Disabilities (PWDs). He also emphasized the steps for bringing behavioral changes in society against PWDs and removing physical and psychological barriers the way of mainstreaming them.
The President was briefed by Press Secretary Qamar Bashir at Aiwan-e-Sadr, about plans for an awareness drive on PWDs. On the occasion, he stressed the need for making policies to financially empower the persons with disabilities.
Dr. Alvi said that PWDs constituted an important part of the population and it is the duty of the stakeholders and society to ensure their inclusion in all aspects of life such as economic, political, business, and other services.
Attitude towards PWDs should be reassessed
He said that there was a need to reassess the attitudes towards PWDs in the society and bring reforms in the education system on the grassroots level to make them a productive segment of the population. He stressed upon the need to stop stereotyping, name-calling, intimidation and harassment of PWDs.
On the occasion, the participants of the meeting agreed on that media has a crucial role to highlight the problems of PWDs and create awareness among the masses to call them with right terminologies such as PWDs or Differently Abled People (DAPs).
Also Read: OIC Condemns the “Villa Rose” Terrorist Attack, Leaving Eight Killed
The president said that as mainstream and social media both are creating awareness in urban as well as rural areas about different issues and are entertaining the masses, these mediums should be used to highlight the due rights of PWDs also. It would sensitize the stakeholders to the public to bring forward useful policies and change their negative attitudes.
He called upon public and private sectors, ministries, departments, civil society organizations and NGOs to join hands for this sacred purpose. –APP
