Pakistan’s president unveils policy to financially empower differently abled persons

Karachi: Pakistan’s President Dr Arif Alvi has unveiled a comprehensive policy to provide mainstream financial and banking services to the differently abled persons for making them financially independent and be useful members of the society.

Dr Arif Alvi, who launched the policy at the head office of the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) in Karachi, expressed the hope that the policy would be helpful in overcoming financial problems of the differently abled persons and also increase their trust in the financial system of the country. He said the new policy should ensure provision of loan services to them on easy terms.

State Bank Governor Raza Baqir said the central bank of Pakistan would work with other banks to ensure equal participation of special persons in mainstream economic activities.

The SBP joined hands with non-governmental organisations and banks to launch the comprehensive financial policy for the differently abled persons. One of the main features of the policy is that the banks will employ the special persons for the sake of their financial independence. A minimum 25 per cent of bank jobs will be reserved for female members of the differently abled persons.

Special products and services will be unveiled for the special customers who are either blind, deaf, mute, or have been living with other physical disabilities. The information about the banking services will be available both in the Braille version and sign language to facilitate the special persons. Ramps will be constructed so that the special persons could access the ATM booths of the banks.

The bank staff will be given training to deal with such customers. The banks will also establish model branches all over the country for provision of all the special services for the differently abled persons under one roof.