Ensuring the journey from legisl
ation to implementation, Sightsavers, provincial chapter of “Community Based Inclusive Development Network” (CBIDN) and a local partner organis
ation “Amjad Nadeem Found
ation Gilgit” co-hosted a consult
ation workshop with representatives of Organizations of Persons with Dis
abilities (OPDs) and their networks on t
he development of Rules of Busines
s for Gilgit-Baltistan Dis
ability Act 2019. The consult
ation was attended by representatives of Social Welfare Department Government of Gilgit, Special Educ
ation Department Gilgit, local advocates and other civil society organizations. This initiative will help translating Dis
ability Act into practical guidelines and also indicating respective government departments and offices responsible to deliver for enactment of the Dis
ability ACT 2019. Government of Gilgit-Baltistan has approved the Dis
ability Act in 2019 but it has not been enacted due to absence of any rules of business, therefore it is critical to include the voices of people with dis
abilities and OPDs in t
he development of rule
s for busines
s for the Dis
ability ACT.
Mr Fida Hussain, Secretary General Social Welfare Department appreciated Sights
avers and CBIDN including Amjad Nadeem Foundation, Gilgit-Baltistan Dis
ability Forum, Darul Hunar Foundation, Diamer Welfare Association, Karakoram Dis
ability Forum, Associ
ation for Differently able Persons Ghizer, Nagar Dis
ability Forum, Goodwill movement, and Associ
ation of Disable-person
s for Hunza for their advocacy to push this endeavour and for their inputs and support in development of rules of business. He assured to support this initiative further to get the rules of business approved from parliament.
Jamila Yar, Project Officer, Sights
avers said this initiative will help ensuring the fulfilment of rights of persons with dis
abilities and creating an equitable access and opportunitie
s for all services. This will further contribute towards implement
ation of UNCRPD and SDGs in Gilgit-Baltistan. She requested all stakeholder
s for their active particip
ation and open feedback to further refine the rules of business.
Mr. Amjad Nadeem, CEO, Amjad Nadeem Found
ation appreciated Sightsavers’ technical and financial support for CBIDN, and other local OPD
s for developing rules of business on Gilgit-Dis
ability Act 2019. He further shared his gratitude for the Department of Social Welfare in Gilgit for being forthcoming in this process.
Ms. Tasneem, Chairperson, Darul Hunar Found
ation said that including voices of women with dis
abilities are critically important to ensuring rules of business are gender sensitive and are addressing their needs.
Advocate Saleem Khan and advocate Shabbir Khan talked about the history of dis
ability legisl
ation in Pakistan and appreciated the government of Gilgit-Baltistan on taking lead in approval of Dis
ability Act in 2019 and now initiating t
he development of Rules of Busines
s for its successful implementation.
Advocate Rana Asif Habib, and Mr Ghulam Nabi Nizami, Inclusion and Diversity Advisor, HANDS, presented the draft of rules of business to all stakeholder
s for their input and suggestions to make it an effective document covering all aspects. The comments, feedback and suggestions provided by stakeholders will be incorporated in the draft to make it as effective as possible.