Pakistan’s Mobility Challenges for Persons with Physical Disabilities: Paving the way to Empowerment, Equality and inclusion For Persons with Disabilities.
One of Pakistan’s most underserved communities is that of persons with disabilities, suffering from severe marginalization and inaccessibility to the basic means to integrate into society. It is estimated that around 10% of the population lives with disability, according to the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics.
Among this community, the majority of persons with disabilities (PWDs) rely on wheelchairs hence with the lack of accessible transport they are restricted from pursuing their dreams and from the right to education and work opportunities. Recognizing the pressing need for Disabled friendly transport solutions, the Disabled Welfare Association, Karachi (DWA) in Pakistan has been at the forefront of initiatives to enhance the lives of PWDs.
Mr. Hussain Ali, the Vice President of DWA, Karachi, stated that one of the major challenges of persons with disabilities is the lack of disability friendly transport. He said that there are no transport facilities for persons with disabilities available and they are forced to move on to vans or old regular buses in a painful and undignified manner, including men, women and children with disabilities. They are man-handled, lifted, and moved on to the bus by the drivers and helpers.
For persons with disability this is a very undignified and dehumanizing process by which many women and young girls feel humiliated and traumatized, and they prefer not to travel by any such means. Thus these difficulties create huge hurdles for persons with disabilities in integrating themselves in society and improving their standard of living.
In collaboration with Mr. Hussain Ali, Fuso Master Motors (Pvt.) Ltd, an authorized manufacturer and distributor of Mitsubishi Fuso Truck and Bus in Pakistan, developed Pakistan’s first locally manufactured disability friendly Bus that is specially customized and designed to cater for the needs of persons with disabilities.
This state-of-the-art disability friendly Fuso Bus is engineered with an automatic elevator designed to lift the person sitting on their wheelchair for easy, quick, hassle-free, and dignified boarding on to the bus.This special Fuso bus accommodates 21 persons with dedicated spaces for travelers with disabilities.
Mr. Hussain Ali stated, this specially designed bus serves as a symbol of not only innovation but also of inclusivity, equality, and empowerment and that the introduction of the customized bus has had a profound impact on the lives of PWDs in his organization.
He further commended Fuso Master Motors on creating this disability friendly bus that has served the mobility needs of persons with disabilities. He was immensely grateful for the support from the government and respected donors for their donations and support for the first disability friendly Fuso bus for his organization.
Mr. Hussain Ali, commended Fuso Master Motors on creating this disability friendly bus that has served the mobility needs of persons with disabilities. He was immensely grateful for the support from the government and respected donors for their donations and support for the first disability friendly Fuso bus for his organization.
The Governor Sindh, Mr. Kamran Tessori, also expressed his appreciation for Fuso Master Motor’s pioneering efforts in contributing to the betterment of the local community and significantly improving the living standards of disabled people. He personally witnessed the functioning of the auto lift through a live demonstration, acknowledging the impact it would have on the lives of those with mobility challenges.
However, to address the longstanding need for accessible transportation is by making it available to the mass persons with disabilities to provide them the means to improve their standard of living and integrate them into the society.
Mr. Hussain Ali advocated for much more government and NGO support and collaboration as he envisioned the mass availability of such buses in Pakistan to empower, provide equal opportunities, Persons with Disabilities through disabled friendly mobility.
He strongly encouraged all institutions and schools to provide such disability friendly Fuso buses to support the persons and children with disabilities.
Also, organizations such as WHO, Special Education Department, Disabled Peoples’ International (DPI) International Labour Organization (ILO) – Global Business & Disability Network, Global Business and Disability Network, Special Talent Exchange Program (STEP), Chhipa Welfare Association, The Network for Consumer Protection (TNCP), Special Olympics Pakistan, Pakistan Disabled Foundation, in order to achieve the goal of a more equal and inclusive Pakistan.
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