ISLAMABAD (Pakistan News): President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, in their messages on International White Cane Day, have stressed the need to ensure dignity, independence, safety and social inclusion for visually impaired people.
Both leaders reaffirmed their commitment to providing equal opportunities to persons with disabilities and improving their access to public places.
In his message, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif paid tribute to the courage, resilience, dedication and determination of visually impaired individuals. He said the efforts of families, support workers and relevant institutions to empower these individuals and ensure their full participation in society were highly commendable.
According to the prime minister, International White Cane Day provides an opportunity to highlight the independence, freedom of movement, self-confidence and dignity of millions of visually impaired people around the world. The white cane is an important assistive tool that helps them navigate daily life independently and achieve success in various fields.
Shehbaz Sharif said Pakistan was proud of the achievements of its talented citizens. He particularly praised the services of Pakistani diplomat Saima Saleem, who represents the country at a high-level diplomatic forum of the United Nations.
He stressed that removing physical, social and institutional barriers was a shared responsibility to ensure that persons with disabilities could utilise their abilities and enjoy equal opportunities for progress. The prime minister also appreciated the work of organisations, including the Pakistan Association of the Blind, that strive to protect the rights, safety and independence of persons with disabilities and promote their social inclusion.
Meanwhile, President Asif Ali Zardari said in his message that special attention was needed to make public places and essential services more accessible to visually impaired people. He extended his best wishes to organisations working to protect their rights and ensure their safety.
The president said the white cane played a vital role in enabling visually impaired people to move around independently. It could also improve their access to education, employment and various everyday activities.
Asif Ali Zardari said the government was taking steps to support the rehabilitation, welfare and independence of persons with disabilities. He praised the Sindh government for establishing a department dedicated to empowering persons with disabilities, saying the institution was working to promote their rehabilitation, welfare and autonomy.
The president expressed hope that establishing similar institutions in other provinces would help address the needs of persons with disabilities and enable them to become effective members of society.
In their messages, the president and prime minister reiterated their commitment to continuing efforts to ensure equal opportunities, a dignified life, a safe environment and social inclusion for all persons with disabilities, including those with visual impairments.