" The INVISIBLE" 3rd December,celebrated as International Didsability Day worldwide and in Pakistan as well is a day to make visible "the invisible ": Let's for a moment ponder over the current situation of one of the neglected and marginalized segment of our society. As a matter of fact,no accurate data or statistics exists on the number and magnitude of Persons with Disabilities living in Pakistan .Moreover, there's not even one scientific study or survey ever carried out at national level to identify or comprehensively assess the problems of differently able , which according to World Health estimates varies between approximately 3.3- 27 m people , larger than the combined population of Scandinavia. A recent study by UNESCO suggests that as many as 1.4m children with disabilities have no access to inclusive or special educational institutions. Furthermore, the research findings of "Moving from the Margins : Mainstreaming Persons with Disabilities in Pakistan " ,a report published by the British Council in August last year speaks volume about the attitudinal ,physical and societal barriers faced by the population who's left at the margins of society . The Economic Intelligence Unit, who conducted this research found that the exclusion of PWDS from employment has led to the economic lossess of as much as US $ 11.9bm to 15.4 bm which will rise to 20.1bm by 2018 respectively . This is a loss of talent as well as the continuation of viscious cycle which will lead to poverty for those who are differently able ,stated Peter Upton , Country Director of British Council while expressing his views over the dismal state of affairs. Nevertheless, there are some celebrated achievements in the past : Noteworthy among is the one and only piece of legislation that's passed in 1981 for Persons with Disabilities. This respective ordinance which laid the foundation for segregated education in the form of special schools and unfair quota system in both educational and employment sector continued to be poorly implemented . The peaceful demonstrations of differently able community( in front of Punjab Assembly and on streets ) for the enforcement of just 2%quota every now and then vividly depicts the failure of state to protect the basic human rights respectively . In addition to this, the " National Policy" for PWDS , that's formulated in 2002 in the wake of strong disability movement " does not contain a single word about Women with disabilities ,undoubtedly reflects discrimination .This respective document that merely acknowledge the rights of Men with disabilities vanished into the air after the 18th amendment and the business as usual continues. A glaring example of this is the pending "principle of accessibility" included in the special citizen's act( 2008) which seeks to make public places and transport accessible for Persons with disabilities ,does not make a slight reference to access to information techonology respectively.Sad but true, the currently pending act,if approved timely could have make the metro bus system accessible for differently able persons.Indeed, the political will to empower PWDs by providing equal rights and opportunities is certainly lacking. The Convention on the rights of Persons with Disabilities(came into force in 2008) clearly articulate the government's commitment to protect the civic,political ,economic and social rights ofPWDS along with the efforts for "inclusion "in the mainstream sphere of life . Pakistan ratified CRPD three years ago ,but unfortunately not much has materialised since then :unequal access to education, work, transport,information ,communication perpetuates millions are still excluded from schools ,universities ,jobs , and last but not the least, no allocation of representative seats in Parliament so far . Today is another 3rd December and nothing changed: the bitter reality is that everything remain the same for the "invisible " : unseen and unheard people who exists nowhere ! and thus, faced a world steeped in pity,stigma and ignorance. The picture painted above is not peculiar to Pakistan . Discrimination ,exclusion and neglect of Persons with Disabilities can be observed in every corner of the world.While the conditions are not perfect in the underdeveloped world , but atleast the wheels are set in motion.Whereas in our homeland , there is an impairment on government's part to even carved a well-articulated policy that address segregation and provides equal rights and public representation to persons with Disabilities. This spell of inertia has to be broken : the Persons with Disabilities are human beings above all and undoubtedly, dignity is conferred upon human beings unconditionally. Dignity,Empowerment and Rights has to be replaced by the Culture of Pity ,Discrimination and Ignorance . Message of The Day :Disability is not impairment ( whether visual,physical,speech ,intellectual) or an inability ,as generally perceived but a diversity that needs to be accepted.

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