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Key Highlights of the Supreme Court Order
1. Employment and Quotas
Mandatory Hiring: The Court directed that all vacant posts within the disabled persons’ employment quota at both Federal and Provincial levels must be advertised and filled immediately.
Eliminating Fraud: The Court ordered an end to the practice of non-disabled people using “fake and fabricated” disability certificates to steal job slots reserved for PWDs.
2. Physical Accessibility (Barrier-Free Environment)
Accessibility Code 2006: All federal and provincial authorities must strictly enforce the Accessibility Code of Pakistan 2006 in all new and existing public infrastructure.
Public Transport: Road transport authorities and Pakistan Railways are directed to build ramps at stations and ensure all public transport is accessible.
Public Spaces: Malls, parks, and public buildings must provide accessible parking, washrooms, and ramps.
Residential Housing: Development authorities must ensure the enforcement of quotas for PWDs in the allotment of residential plots and houses.
3. Data Collection and Documentation
Accurate Statistics: The Pakistan Bureau of Statistics, in consultation with NADRA, is tasked with publishing and periodically updating accurate figures regarding the PWD population to ensure data-driven policy making.
4. Public Awareness and Media
Ending Stigma: PEMRA, PTV, and other media outlets are directed to run public service messages to raise awareness and foster an environment where citizens with disabilities are given “respect, protection, and support.”
Travel Concessions: Authorities must ensure that concessional travel rates for PWDs (Air and Rail) are not only provided but also widely advertised.
5. Accountability and Grievance Redressal
Grievance Cells: Both Federal and Provincial governments must establish formal grievance redressal mechanisms where PWDs can report discrimination or non-compliance with the law.
Legal Enforcement: Laws relating to the rehabilitation and employment of disabled persons must be implemented in “letter and spirit.”
Significance of the Judgment
The Supreme Court emphasized that PWDs have a right to assimilation into the mainstream. The judgment moves disability from a matter of “charity” to a matter of Constitutional Right, binding every government department to take proactive steps to remove “insurmountable barriers” to inclusion.