LAHORE: The Punjab government has approved and gazette notified the Punjab Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities Rules, 2024 allowing the Council on Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) fully functional.

The Punjab Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities Act 2022 was enacted on Dec 19, 2022, to protect the rights of persons with disabilities (PWDs) and promote their inclusion in society in line with the Constitution of Pakistan, the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, and international best practices.

Under Section 19 of the Act, a 28-member CRPD led by the Punjab social welfare and Baitul Maal minister was constituted.

The Act’s section 20 (1) relates to the functions of the council which stipulates that the council shall perform all such functions and exercise all such powers as may be required for the enforcement of the rights and entitlements of persons with disabilities.

The Section 54 of the Act stipulates that the government may, by notification in the official gazette, make rules for carrying out the purpose of the Act.

The CRPD had held its maiden meeting on Sept 28, 2023, that called for framing the rules and a draft was presented in its second meeting on May 23 last year for review and feedback of the council members.

The revised rules were forwarded to the law & parliamentary affairs department for vetting, which advised the administrative department to initiate a summary and route the same through all relevant stakeholders, including the finance department, for the approval of the chief minister to place the same before the Punjab Cabinet through its Standing Committee of Cabinet on Legislative Business & Privatisation.

It may be mentioned that 14 government departments were CRPD members along with other non-official members. The provincial cabinet approved the draft Punjab Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities Rules 2024 in its meeting held on Dec 19, 2024.

Through these rules, the department officials say it would be more convenient for the CRPD to carry out its functions that encompass all the basic rights and privileges to PWDs, including accessibility and mobility, protection from inhuman treatment, violence and torture, equity in education, equity in healthcare and rehabilitation, adequate standards of living and social protection, political participation, participation in sports, cultural and recreational activities, protection in disaster situation and establishment of training centres for PWDs.

“By official notification of these rules, it is a step towards making Punjab a more inclusive province where persons with disabilities may live their life by exercising their rights and privileges in a positive manner,” a senior official of the social welfare told Dawn.

Published in Dawn, January 30th, 2025