Micro-credit program hopes to bring empowerment to disabled people in Pakistan

From APP:

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan - Ministry of Social Welfare and Special Education was endeavouring to introduce a micro credit scheme for disabled persons as a top priority in order to bring social empowerment for persons with disability.

In this regard, the ministry was having consultations with banks including Khushali Bank for ground work to decide an easy way of providing loans to disabled with a minimum interest, Minister for Social Welfare and Special Education, Samina Khalid Ghurki said on August 10.

This endeavour would enable the persons with disability to be independent through small scale business with proper finance in soft terms and conditions, she told this news agency.

“These efforts will bring substantial change in living standards of these persons and will move forward in making Pakistan a disabled friendly state of the world,” Ghurki said.

She further said that her ministry has started a project to issue special ID cards for the disabled carrying a universal logo of a disabled person and wheelchair.

Besides enabling them to get their own identity and benefits in various schemes for the welfare of disabled persons, the purpose of these cards is to facilitate the disable persons to claim concessions on traveling fares of Pakistan International Airlines and Pakistan Railways as well as free medical treatment in public sector hospitals.