Ms. Sumaira Samad, Secretary, Women Development Department (WDD) Punjab along with Mr. Shahnawaz, Regional Manager, SPO, visited the office of Society for Special Persons (SSP) in Multan. Ms. Zahida Hameed Qureshi, president, SSP, shared the challenges related to development persons with disabilities friendly infrastructure. The Secretary, WDD highlighted the importance of the matter and said that the department was focusing on accessibility and inclusiveness. In this regard, a project entitled βIntegrating Women with Disabilities into Mainstreamβ had been approved for the Financial Year 2022-23. The project aims at collection and analysis of data regarding women with disabilities in Punjab for the purpose of development of evidence based policy and other interventions for women with disabilities.
Secretary, WDD, Regional Manager, SPO, President, SSP and her team had a discussion regarding the requirements for buildings that were inclusive of persons with disabilities. Secretary WDD said that her department aimed to include elements in the design of buildings constructed through the departmentβs budget that had features that enabled person with disabilities to access and functions within the building independently. The department was constructing three working women hostels through ADP 2022-23 and aims to incorporate such features in the design of these buildings. Ms. Zahida Qureshi shared her experience in this regard and also presented a copy of a report including the building audit her organization had conducted in this context and which included documentation on the kinds of features requirement for such buildings.
Secretary, WDD highly appreciated the efforts of SSP and all participants agreed to work in collaboration in areas of mutual interest.
Ms. Zahida Hameed Qureshi presenting bouquet to worthy Secretary, WDD
Ramp for Persons with disabilities Β in office of Society for Special Persons (SSP)
Secretary WDD, Mr. Shahnawaz, Regional Manager, SPO, Ms. Zahida Qureshi, President SSP and her Β team members