KARACHI: While there are between 19,000 and 21,000 blind people in Karachi and more than 12 per cent people in Pakistan disabled and visually impaired, it seems the special education ministry that has become a provincial subject after the 18th constitutional amendment does not exist at all, as the federal and provincial governments are doing nothing for their welfare.

This was stated by Zubair Ahmed Siddiqui, secretary of the Karachi Association for the Welfare of Special Persons, at a press conference at the Karachi Press Club on the occasion of World White Cane Safety Day on Thursday.

Mr Siddiqui, who throughout the presser sounded disappointed with the apathetic attitude of the authorities concerned towards the subject,said neither the prime minister nor the Sindh chief minister appeared to be interested in the issues faced by the disabled. He said according to a UN survey, there were 12 ½ per cent disabled in Pakistan. It`s a huge number and unless the government paid attention to that segment of society, the country would not progress, he added.

He said World White Cane Safety Day was first observed in 1964; ever since the day was marked to celebrate the achievements of the blind as well as to create awareness among the masses about the problems faced by the blind community. Despite the fact that technology and media reigned supreme, no media outlet at present ran programmes on the importance of the day, he lamented.

Instead, he said, the whole country was made to discuss what was happening in a single constituency in Lahore. He said there was not a singlebraille press in Karachi and urged media organisations that the mindset neededtobechanged.

Narrating a couple of tales, he said he went to the relevant department situated at the Civic Centre for the association`s work, but was made to run from pillar to post.

He then talked about how badly those who ran civil society organisations treated him when went to them to seek a job for his visually impaired colleague.

Mr Siddiqui said there were between 19,000 and 21000 blind people in Karachi alone but there was only one special education school in Korangi, which was of no use, be cause it didn`t have many students.

He said his association conducted surveys about the blind people and found out that people were ashamed to tell that they had disabled members in their families due to social pressures.