Pakistan Disabled Foundation Confers with AAPD

By Jenifer Simpson, Senior Director for Government Affairs
Jenifer Simpson and the Pakistan Delegation

Jenifer Simpson (center) with Shahid Ahmed Memon (right), who is Chairman of the Pakistan Disabled Foundation, and his son Hassan Ahmed

On August 25th, 2010, representatives from the Pakistan Disabled Foundation met with the American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD) to discuss general disability policy and approaches to civil rights. Shahid Ahmed Memon, who is Chairman of the Pakistan Disabled Foundation, a private organization, is also a Member of the National Council for the Rehabilitation of Disabled Persons, a government sponsored services entity, both entities located in Karachi, Pakistan. He was accompanied by his son, Hassan Ahmed, a volunteer for the Foundation and who is studying Economics at the Master’s level in Pakistan and who acted as a guide for Mr. Memon, who is blind, during this U.S. visit.

Similar to AAPD, the Pakistan Disabled Foundation (PDF), founded in 1997, is a cross disability organization that is a national support organization for people with disabilities and other conditions. Mr. Memon explained these disabling conditions may be “hidden, intellectual, mental health, physical, sensory, or emotional.” The Ahmeds met with Jenifer Simpson, Senior Director for Government Affairs, Ginny Thornburgh, Director of AAPD’s Interfaith Initiative, and Rebecca Panoff, Director of Communications.

PDF administers a Resource, Training and Educational Center that includes programs such as regular educational classes for children with disabilities, counseling, guidance, and resource information and equipment for people who acquire disability through accident or disease, such as due to the current flood crisis where 20 percent of the nation is under water. PDF also provides space for training of people with disabilities that is used by local, provincial, national and international organizations for disability-focused seminars, trainings and similar events. Other PDF activities include organizing cultural, recreational and social activities for people with disabilities, their families and associates. These may include provision of relief, services for wedding ceremonies, medical help, and clothing and support to needy persons.

Mr. Memon specifically noted the shortage of accessible equipment for people who are blind and with physical disabilities, such as the need for JAWS and wheelchairs, stating how people “cannot move forward without these simple needs met.” While Pakistan has a 2% affirmative employment requirement for businesses, he noted that deep stereotypes remain about the workforce capabilities of people with disabilities, including for women with disabilities who are often perceived as unmarriageable on the basis of disability; he affirmed that most people with disabilities remain dependent on their families for sustenance and housing. PDF’s recent employment policy success was to ensure that people hired under the 2% quota cannot be let go when there is a general staff reduction across the employing organization.

PDF was founded in 1997 for the purpose of collective action by people with disabilities in Pakistan to strive for full rights and privileges. Their recent annual report (2007) indicates income (“charity and donations”) of about $43,000 or about 3.7M Pakistani rupees. The largest amount of support goes to “Conferences, Seminars & Courses” with “Training” as the next largest expenditure and “Aid to Beneficiaries” next.

Pakistan is located between Afghanistan and India and Karachi is on the Arabian seacoast. Mr. Memon invited all AAPD members, and anyone in the disability community, to contact him and visit PDF in Karachi, Pakistan. He offered food and housing for anyone willing to visit, emphasizing that transportation costs would be the onus of the visitor. Note that English is the language of educated Pakistani people and in most government ministries. To arrange a visit, or to learn more about people with disabilities and advocacy in Pakistan, contact the Ahmeds as follows:

Mr. Shahid Ahmed Memon, Chairman, Pakistan Disabled Foundation
Address: Block-14, Naseerabad, Federal B Area, Karachi, Pakistan.
Email info@pdf.org.pk
Tel 0092-21-36313317
Fax 0092-21-36319787
Mobile 0092-30023160661
Mr. Hassan Ahmed
Email mr.poonawala@yahoo.com
Mobile 92-333-3889482

Prof. Shahid Ahmed Memon
Chairman,
Pakistan Disabled Foundation

Block 14, Naseerabad, F.B Area

Near Soneri Bank

Karachi -

Dear Sir,

“ASsalamualikum”. I hope, you are well by the grace of the almighty Allah. I am fine by the help of Allah. I came to learn about you that you are doing so better and performing excellent activities. I appreciate your unique program and activities that will provide opportunity to sharing knowledge and experiences in the field of disability and development. When you were the president of Asia Blind Union and you represented on behalf of WBU in the Asia Region and your dynamic leadership and strong commitment had played vital role for the visually impaired persons in this region. I do hope that your leadership may raise more effective and enthusiastic in the development field of disability all over the world. .

As a RI National Secretary in Bangladesh I would like to mention or comment sincerely that in accordance with your performances in the field of disability, the chain of your activities could be stronger than before I hope. I expect that you can make a World Forum of Disabled Peoples’ Organizations (DPOs) or at least Asia based Forum of DPOs I am interested so. Would it be a dream of you? I will cooperate as much as possible in this regard. If you have interest I hope, you can do it with the help of your intellectual capacity, knowledge and experiences.

However, I would like to invite you to visit our organization any time and I am looking forward to hearing from your end valuable opinion as soon as possible. And I am also looking forward to your possible cooperation and suggestion in the field of development in the light of UN-CRPD.

With thanks and kindest regards,

Sincerely Yours,

Md. Jahangir Alam

Executive Director-NFAVH &

RI National Secretary for Bangladesh.

Email: favh@dhaka.net / nfavh2010@gmail.com

Directorate General of Special Education is planning to celebrate 2009 as the year of Mr. Louis Braille on his 200th Birthday in all Special Education Centers for Visually Handicapped Children with objective to recognize his services rendered for the betterment of blind community.