The Pakistani areas adjacent to the Afghan border, affected by the Soviet war in the 1980s and the global war on terrorism over the past two decades, are indeed struggling with backwardness. But the issues faced by differently-able people in such regions are twice as severe compared to other cities in Pakistan. This compounded disadvantage makes their situation even more critical.

A poignant example of this is the case of Safiullah, a young man from Bajaur. He applied for the position of Naib Qasid in the Bajaur Department of Elementary and Secondary Education but was denied employment. Despite multiple attempts, he claims that people like him have consistently been overlooked in the recruitment process for Naib Qasid positions.

According to information obtained from the Bajaur Department of Education under the Right to Information (RTI) Act, 205 Class IV positions were filled in the department last year, yet differently-able people were again excluded from such opportunities.

An inquiry conducted by the KP Directorate of Education recommended that the new Class IV recruitments address the existing shortfall, which included hiring 12 male and eight female Class IV employees. But once again, the authorities in the Bajaur Department of Education overlooked people with disabilities in the recruitment process.

While 205 Class IV positions were filled, the department was required to recruit an additional 4 Class IV employees as per regulations, showed a data. Yet, such individuals were “disregarded,” leading to a shortfall that has now reached 24.

In response to the issue, Shireen Zada, an official from the department, stated that the Class IV positions were awarded to landowners who provided free land for schools, asserting that it was their right under the law.

He mentioned that only one special individual was recruited as a Class IV employee at a school built on government land. He also claimed that the shortfall in Bajaur has been addressed within the teaching cadre, with several special individuals hired for positions such as primary school teacher, Arabic teacher, and TT and CT roles.

A request was made under the Right to Information Act to obtain data on individuals hired under the quota for special individuals in the merged districts of KP, but the information has yet to be received.

2% quota for people with disabilities a ‘legal right’

The two per cent quota for people with disabilities is a “legal right”. According to Rule 10, Sub-rule 5 of the KP Rules for Civil Servants (Appointment, Promotions, and Transfers) 1989, two per cent of all positions filled through initial recruitment must be reserved for disabled candidates.

Moreover, Section 10 of the Disabled Persons (Employment and Rehabilitation) Ordinance of 1981 states that the shares due under the 2% quota should be calculated and aligned with the total strength of the cadre/base salary, as emphasized in the Supreme Court of Pakistan’s ruling in August.

In the merged districts, five schools have been established for the deaf and mute, but no vehicles have been provided for transportation.

A social welfare department official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, revealed that the KP government established five schools for deaf children in the merged districts, including Bajaur, Mohmand, Khyber, Orakzai, and North Waziristan.

All schools were to be provided with coaster vehicles, but such have not yet been supplied, according to the project’s PC-1. Schools operate on temporary funding, and if made permanent, it would benefit staff by ensuring timely salaries and a sustainable system.

The official also mentioned that proposals for other projects under the social welfare department have been submitted to the government, yet there has been no progress on such initiatives. The proposed projects include shelters, drug centres, and schools for the blind. He noted that following the integration of erstwhile FATA into KP, all projects implemented in other districts should also be executed in the merged districts. But the pace of work on such initiatives remains exceedingly slow.

Moreover, no special education complexes have been established in the merged districts, despite a growing number of special individuals in need of rehabilitation and education. The government had promised to set up special education complexes in all merged districts, but work has yet to commence. In a previous announcement, former provincial social welfare minister Anwar Zeb Khan had pledged to construct a special education complex in Bajaur, but he has not fulfilled this promise.

Number of people with disabilities reach 43,000 in district

Abrar, the Social Welfare Department assistant director for the merged districts, reported that the number of people with disabilities in such areas, which comprise the former FATA’s seven districts and six subdivisions, has reached 43,000.

“Efforts are under way to provide special individuals with their rights and to assist in their rehabilitation,” he said and added that the government has initiated a programme to supply tricycles, wheelchairs, walkers, crutches, hearing aids, white canes for the blind, and sewing machines. Advertisements have been published in newspapers to invite applications, which can be submitted online through a designated link.

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Once applications are received, the necessary items would be procured and distributed based on merit, depending on the availability of funds.

In cases where the number of applications exceeds the allocated budget, a lottery system would be employed to distribute the items, as decided by the council. “Applicants must be permanent residents of KP and must obtain a disability certificate from the Social Welfare Department. Those without a disability certificate can apply for one within 20 days.”

Furthermore, Khan noted that during recruitment for vacant positions in various provincial departments, the quota for special individuals is mentioned in job advertisements. “A recruitment process has already been completed in several departments.”