Govt asked to ensure participation in second Global Disability Summit.

ISLAMABAD -- A campaign calling on the government of Pakistan to make lasting commitments to people with disabilities has been launched 100 days before the second Global Disability Summit.

The summit will be held in February next year in Norway to address the global needs of people with disabilities, and ensure they are integrated into policies and laws.

It is the world's biggest gathering of people with disabilities, governments, international agencies, charities and business leaders, and is a vital opportunity for governments and organisations everywhere to implement the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD).

The 'Equal World' campaign, run by INGO Sightsavers, along with the Community Based Inclusive Development Network Pakistan (CBIDN), is counting down to the pivotal event and appealing for the government to take advantage of the opportunity by attending and making strong commitments.

Sightsavers' Country Director Munazza Gillani in a statement said: 'We are calling on the government of Pakistan to attend the summit with high-level representation and to make ambitious, properly financed commitments that will result in real change. To achieve this, ministries and their relevant departments must engage with people with disabilities and their representative organisations ahead of and during the summit. We are also calling on the government of Pakistan to ensure the 2022 Census effectively counts people with disabilities.'

She added, 'Next year's summit is an opportunity for the government to make their actions speak louder than their words and commit to securing disability rights. That is what our Equal World campaign is calling for. We look forward to working with the government to ensure the voices of people with disabilities are heard through consultations and workshops over the coming weeks and months ahead of the...