Trade bodies should play their role in the economic inclusion of differently-abled persons (DAPs). The suggestion was made by First Lady Samina Alvi when she visited the Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) for a dialogue with its members. Samina Alvi said that according to the World Health Organization around 16% of the population is differently-abled, adding that it is very important to include these disadvantaged people into the economic success story.

She said that all major trade bodies of the country should play their role in this endeavour, adding that since KCCI has 25,000 industries under its umbrella, its responsibility increases all the more toward the differently-abled persons. KCCI has previously decided to liaise with local organizations to find suitable opportunities for DAPs.

KCCI would collect data on the requirements of the industry and under its corporate social responsibilities (CSRs) program, it would forward the data to local welfare organizations to train and equip their DAPs in the required skills. In this way DAPs would get a chance to serve the industry while also meeting the manpower requirements of the latter.

Samina Alvi directed the industrialists to allocate a 5% job quota for DAPs in their hiring programs, adding that banks should give them easy loans so that they could start their own businesses. She said that DAPs should be facilitated in the society in any way possible, especially in shopping malls and public transport systems.

She said that wheelchairs and canes are being produced in the country which is a good sign, adding that demand for such utilities is still unfulfilled by the local industry. Technical Advisor of the WHO, Dr Marriyam Malik, during her speech said that it is the collective responsibility of all to accommodate DAPs in mainstream society. 

She stressed the need for coordination among the public and private sector organizations, and the civil society in carrying out the rehabilitation and strengthening of DAPs so that repetition of the activities could be avoided.  She informed that WHO-Pakistan has already created a council for DAPs representing relevant stakeholders on its board and that KCCI could also send its representative.  Towards the end of the dialogue, KCCI President Muhammad Tariq Yousuf and Senior Vice President Tauseef Ahmed briefed the First Lady about CSR works being done by the chamber’s members.

Credit : Independent News Pakistan-WealthPk