Islamabad: President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif have reiterated their commitment to protect the rights of persons with disabilities and ensure equal opportunities for them. In their statements on the ‘International Day of Persons with Disabilities,’ being observed today, they urged citizens, public and private institutions, civil society, and international partners to support persons with disabilities and recognize their identity with respect.

According to Radio Pakistan, President Zardari emphasized that the government, through federal and provincial bodies, is taking steady steps to improve accessibility, education, healthcare, mobility, and employment opportunities for persons with disabilities. He highlighted the importance of working together to create a Pakistan where no one is left behind and where persons with disabilities are acknowledged as contributors to the nation’s collective strength and resilience.

Prime Minister Sharif, in his message, affirmed the government’s recognition of the importance of safeguarding the rights of persons with disabilities and its diligent efforts to protect them. He noted that the Constitution of Pakistan guarantees equal rights and participation for all citizens, highlighting that people with disabilities are an integral part of society’s social, societal, and cultural fabric.