DLP Report
SHANGLA
The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has announced that persons with disabilities will no longer be charged OPD slip fees at public hospitals and pledged measures to reserve seats for them on public transport and provide half-fare concessions, Adviser to the Chief Minister Malik Liaquat Ali Khan said on Friday.
Addressing a public hearing organised by the Social Welfare Department in Shangla to hear the problems of persons with disabilities, the adviser said the provincial government was taking practical measures to improve access to basic services for them.
He directed the district administration to hold a meeting with local transporters and work out arrangements for reserving designated seats for persons with disabilities in public transport and providing them half-fare concessions.
Mr Khan also announced that a rehabilitation centre in Shangla would be made functional and directed the relevant authorities to facilitate persons with disabilities in government offices, hospitals and educational institutions.
A large number of persons with disabilities from across the district attended the public hearing and presented their problems directly to the adviser and district administration officials.
The participants complained about the lack of educational facilities for children with disabilities, difficulties in obtaining Himat, Sahara and Ehsaas cards, and inadequate facilities for visually and hearing-impaired children. They also called for effective implementation of the two per cent quota reserved for persons with disabilities in government jobs.
The participants said public hospitals and government offices lacked adequate accessibility arrangements, making it difficult for them to obtain services.
Mr Khan listened to the complaints and issued directions for the immediate resolution of several issues. He directed officials to ensure that persons with disabilities faced no unnecessary difficulties in accessing government services.
The Social Welfare Department also announced a campaign to collect comprehensive data on persons with disabilities in the district.
Officials said 305 out of 321 widows had so far been paid Rs60,000 each under the widow fund, while 102 out of 193 eligible beneficiaries had received rations under the Mustahq Ration Card programme.
During his visit, Mr Khan also inaugurated a Child Protection Unit at the district Social Welfare Office in Shangla, established with the support of Unicef. Officials briefed him on the unit’s services and measures for the protection of children.
