Regional Workshop on Comprehensive National Plan of Action on Disability - Towards the Mid-point Review of the Biwako Millennium Framework for Action towards an Inclusive, Barrier-free and Rights-based Society for Persons with Disabilities in Asia and the Pacific (BMF)
Bangkok, Thailand, 19-21 October 2005

Pakistan - Country Report

1. M. Noor Saghir Khan, Additional Secretary,
2. Muhammad Shafi, Senior Teacher (DGSE),
Ministry of Social Welfare and Special Education
Government of Pakistan

1 Vision:

Q. What is your Government’s vision in planning disability related laws, policies and plans?

A. The Government of Pakistan, being a signatory to International Conventions on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (PWDs), has taken a number of measures for serving cause of persons with disabilities in the country. The present Government of Pakistan approved National Policy for Persons with Disabilities in the year 2002. The overall vision of the National Policy, in keeping with our Islamic way of life, is to provide by 2025 an environment that would allow full realization of the potential of persons with disabilities through their inclusive mainstreaming and providing them full support of the government, private sector and civil society.

In pursuance of the National Policy, a draft National Plan of Action (NPA) has been developed after consultation with 100 various governments, non-government organizations, private sector. This draft Plan incorporates the actions required to achieve the targets given in the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and Pacific (UNESCAP) document titled “Biwako Millennium Framework for Action Towards an Inclusive, Barrier-Free and Rights-Based Society for Persons with Disabilities in Asia and the Pacific”, to which Pakistan is a signatory. The draft Plan of Action makes recommendations for implementation up to year 2025. The draft Plan of Action has been currently circulated to stakeholders including the various federal Ministries and the four provincial governments and shall be launched after a consensus. The National Plan of Action interalia among other things, include provision for legislation for persons with disabilities, promotion of inclusive education for children with special needs, access to information and communication, expansion of international training, employment and economic rehabilitation of persons with disabilities.

Q. What values and concepts do you think are important? (Ex. Equality, adherence to international instruments, BMF etc.).

A. The draft National Plan of Action is based on the philosophy that access, inclusion and equalization of opportunities for persons with disabilities who constitute 2.49% of Pakistan’s population according to 1998 Census, can be achieved only through a coordinated and integrated manner. The goal will be met by expanding services to the country’s rural areas where 2/3 of persons with disabilities live.

Q. Does your Government think that it is important to have both disability-specific and disability-inclusive laws, policies and plans (twin-track approach)?

A. The Government supports both the disability-specific and disability-inclusive approach. However, we believe in the disability-inclusive approach and are focusing our plans and projects for a quick inclusion of persons with disabilities in the mainstream of society.

2. Issues in application of twin track approaches.

Q. Please discuss your assessment of your country’s specific advantages and disadvantages in applying twin-track approach.

A. (a) Advantages:

(i) It is relatively economical and easy to feasibility.

(ii) It does not have any separate and special arrangements for implementation of the programmes.

(iii) It is based on the philosophy of integrating the persons with disabilities into the mainstream at an early stage.

(iv) Society becomes aware of the problems of the persons with disabilities.

(b) Disadvantages:

(i) Non-acceptance of the reality by the peer group, public, the teachers, the administrators and the decision makers due to lack of information and mindsets.

Q. Please discuss any other relevant issues.

A. NIL.

3. Analysis, planning and programming from the disability perspective.

Q. How does your government do situation analysis of Persons with Disabilities?

A. The situation analysis is carried out with the help of:

(i) conducting surveys and research studies;

(ii) seeking expert advice;

(iii) involvement of local governments, district governments, provincial governments, social welfare departments of various universities;

(iv) research and referencing;

(v) studies conducted by NGOs.

Q. How does your government gather disability-aggregated data and socio-economic indicators?

A. The main source of gathering this information by the Government of Pakistan is through the Census Organization, which itself is a government organization. Moreover, this information is also gathered through economic, social and other household surveys conducted by the Government at various occasions.

Q. What are your Government’s policy framework / structure for disability issues (constitution, laws, policies, plans of action) ?

A. (i) Articles 25, 27 and 38 of the Constitution of Islamic Republic of Pakistan provide guarantees for equality, safeguards against discrimination in services and promotion of social and economic well-being of the people, including peoples with disabilities, respectively.

(ii) The country’s Five Years Plans formulated by the Planning Commission give a direction towards programme planning and implementation in this specific area of disability.

(iii) The recently approved National Policy for Persons with Disabilities is a major source/force for preparing plans of action in this field of activity.

(iv) Different laws are presently in operation in this specific area and a few more are planned to be drafted in future.

4) Participation and institutional arrangements.

Q: Please describe how your Governments include participation of stakeholders (persons with disabilities, their families, disability professionals, development professionals, ministries and agencies, government officials at different levels, donors)?

A: The Government of Pakistan ensures to have a thorough consultative process with all stakeholders like persons with disabilities, the NGOs for and/or of the Persons with Disabilities, disability professionals, development professionals, ministries and agencies, government officials at different levels and donors etc. in all the policy matters like preparation and finalization of the National Policy and the National Plan of Action to implement the National Policy etc.

5) Resources mobilization.

Q: How does your Government finance the implementation, monitoring/evaluation of policies, laws and plans?

A: The Government of Pakistan bears all the expenditure on implementation and monitoring/evaluation of its own projects/programmes for the PWDs, in the country. Moreover, the Government also provides necessary technical/financial assistance to the NGOs working for the cause of the PWDs in order to share their burden as well as to keep their interest alive towards this important service of humanity. While doing so the Government however welcomes any assistance from other agencies specially the international donor agencies.

Q: How does your Government obtain ideas and knowledge and technology, necessary for the planning, implementation and monitoring/evaluation of policies, laws and plans?

A: The ideas, knowledge and technology are obtained through consultative processes at all levels. The ideas/recommendations etc. received on

the subject from the international organizations like those of the UN-ESCAP etc. are also considered and given due importance while formulating/finalizing the policies and plans in this area of activity.

Q: How does your Government/ministry obtain political support for the planning, implementation and monitoring/evaluation of policies, laws and plans?

A: Political support is always obtained and also is available in this behalf as and when required. The Members of the Parliament are keen in getting information about the activities being undertaking in the field of disability in the country, through the Question/Answer sessions. They also participate in various activities/programmes organized by the government and non-governmental organizations at the local levels.

Q: How does your Government mobilize necessary material and human resources?

A: As indicated above, the Government of Pakistan bears all the necessary expenditure on implementation of its own projects/programmes for the Persons with Disabilities, in the country. Moreover, as already indicated, the Government also provides necessary technical/financial assistance to the NGOs working for the cause of the Persons with Disabilities in order to share their burden as well as to keep their interest alive towards this important service of humanity. While doing so, the Government welcomes any assistance from other agencies specially the international donor agencies.

6) Setting timeframe and issues in implementation management.

Q: What is your timeframe for the planning, implementation and monitoring/evaluation of policies, laws and plans?

A: The Government fixes a realistic timeframe for all matters like planning, implementation and monitoring/evaluation of policies, laws and plans in the field of disability. For example, the National Policy for Persons with Disabilities, approved by the Government is supposed to be implemented by the year 2025. Further, various actions/steps involved in the draft National Plan of Action to implement the National Policy also bear a reasonable timeframe for their implementation.

Q: Please discuss any other management issues. NIL

7) Monitoring and evaluation.

Q: What is your Government’s system for monitoring and evaluation of policies, laws and plans?

A: Each and every programme implemented by the Government, in the field of disabilities carries a formal system of monitoring and evaluation, both the mid-term as well as at the end of each activity. The Government organizations like Planning and Development Division etc. also act as the external evaluation agents of the Government’s funded programmes/projects.

8) Reporting and public information.

Q: How does your Government report on the monitoring and evaluation?

A:

I) The monitoring and evaluation of programmes and projects, meant for the empowerment of Persons with Disabilities, is a regular activity of Government of Pakistan. There exists an excellent focal point; i.e. Directorate General of Special Education functioning under the Ministry of Social Welfare & Special Education. It is responsible to undertake the process of monitoring and evaluation and provide reports whenever and wherever required. Very soon an agreement will be signed between UNICEF and the Directorate General of Special Education (DGSE) to start monitoring and evaluation of Special Education System in Pakistan. UNICEF will conduct a survey throughout the country and will submit a comprehensive report on the weaknesses of the system of Special Education in Pakistan.

II) There are 02 high level committees comprising of Members of Upper and Lower Houses where issues of monitoring and evaluation of policies, laws and plans regarding empowerment of Persons with Disabilities are reviewed on regular basis.

III) National Council for the Rehabilitation of Disabled Persons (NCRDP) is also playing an important role regarding coordination. This Council comprises representatives from Federal Ministries, Provincial Governments, NGOs and some prominent Persons with Disabilities.

Q: How does your Government raise awareness on disability-sensitive society?

A:

I) Various activities are undertaken to achieve this objective, which include print and electronic media and also through various seminars, conferences, workshops on various subjects etc. Recently a Regional Training Seminar has concluded in Pakistan for Capacity Building of Self-help Organizations of Persons with Disabilities (CBSHOD) which elevated the level of awareness amongst public and private sectors inside and out side Pakistan.

II) Public awareness campaigns are launched on special occasions like National Days, Universal Children Day, White Cane Safety Day and International Day for the Persons With Disabilities etc

Bangkok Oct. 19, 2005

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