AGP Mansoor Usman Emphasises Disability Law Implementation

ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 29th Mar, 2026) A policy dialogue titled “Digital and Social Inclusion of Persons with Disabilities: Disability Legal Regime, Issues and Challenges” was convened in Islamabad to examine the implementation of disability laws and identify structural barriers faced by persons with disabilities in accessing rights, services and opportunities.

The dialogue was organised by the Centre for Peace and Development Initiatives.

The dialogue brought together policymakers, legal experts, representatives of Organisations of Persons with Disabilities, civil society members and media professionals to examine gaps between legal commitments and practical implementation. The Attorney General for Pakistan, Mansoor Usman Awan, attended the dialogue as Chief Guest. He acknowledged the issues raised by participants and emphasised that advancing the rights of persons with disabilities requires sustained institutional commitment and coherent implementation of existing legal frameworks. He noted that effective enforcement of disability laws is integral to ensuring constitutional guarantees of equality and non-discrimination. Huma Chughtai, MNA, emphasised the role of accessible digital and social platforms in governance, public service delivery and information dissemination. She also noted the disproportionate impact of disasters on persons with disabilities, particularly women with disabilities, due to mobility constraints, social barriers and limited access to inclusive preparedness mechanisms.

Mukhtar Ahmad Ali, Executive Director, CPDI, underscored the importance of strengthening implementation and oversight mechanisms under disability legislation. He stated that statutory recognition must be supported by operational measures, accessible systems and institutional accountability. Shabbir Ahmed, Country Director, International Foundation for Electoral Systems, highlighted the importance of inclusive governance and removal of barriers within public systems to enable meaningful participation of persons with disabilities in democratic and civic processes. Syed Sardar Ahmed Pirzada, Pakistan’s first blind journalist, observed that although the ICT Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act 2020 has been in place for several years, the absence of notified rules continues to constrain its implementation, with the result that legal protections remain largely unrealised. Zahid Abdullah, former Federal Information Commissioner, noted that the growing use of artificial intelligence in public and social domains may gradually prioritise procedural rationality over human sentiment in everyday interactions, raising concerns for inclusion, dignity and human-centred communication. The dialogue concluded with emphasis on the development of implementation rules, strengthened monitoring mechanisms, improved access to civil documentation, inclusive digital systems and sustained efforts to address societal barriers in order to ensure equal participation of persons with disabilities.