Nation-Wide Video Conference on "Keeping the promise: Mainstreaming Disability in the Millennium Development Goals towards 2015 and beyond"by Telenor Pakistan

Program Report

Telenor Office  (Karachi)

Telenor Pakistan invited leaders of DPO’s to attend Nation-Wide Video Conference from Telenor Offices located in Islamabad/Lahore/Karachi/ Multan Quetta/Hyderabad to celebrate the International Day of Persons with Disabilities on Thursday, 2nd December, 2010. The Theme of the Nation-Wide Video Conference was "Keeping the promise: Mainstreaming Disability in the Millennium Development Goals towards 2015 and beyond".

Lunch was served as soon as the participants arrived at the Telenor Office. The program started with the Recitation from the Holy Quran by Abdul Qudus. Mr Kashif Hafeez welcomed the guest, gave a brief speech on the background of the video conference and facilitated a round of introduction of participants from Islamabad/Lahore/Karachi/ Multan Quetta/Hyderabad. Mr Muhammad Atif Sheikh, President STEP, spoke about UNCRPD’s present situation, signing and ratification of convention by Pakistan, background of the theme of this year, how MDGs can be inclusive & overview of national policies related to disability in Pakistan.

Ghulam Nabi Nizamani CEO PDPO / DPI PAK spoke about UNCRPD’s Global Trends, & numbers of countries who have signed or ratified UNCRPD, how it is being implemented and how DPOs can contribute towards it.

Palwasha Khan & Abia Akram spoke about selected Articles of UNCRPD & where DPOs can play their role as catalyst or implementer.

Open Discussion was conducted where all DPO’s were given time for brief presentation of their contribution towards creating awareness on convention, implementation or influencing government to ratify.

At the Conclusion of the Nation-Wide Video Conference, the National Leaders of the Disability Movement, Mr Ghulam Nizamani, Mr Shafiq ur Rehman, & Mr Atif Sheikh enhanced the DPO’s leaders & representatives with their enlightened knowledge gained through constant visit aboard to attend Training, Workshops, Seminars, & Conferences.

Mr. Noorudin.S.Bhamani, President Awareness Voluntary Organization, Project: Awareness Pakistan was also present in this Nation-Wide Video Conference, the hospitality & the acceptance approach of Persons with Disabilities by Telenor & its staff was outstanding.

Awareness Voluntary Organization gave memento of appreciation to some of the organizing staff.

A vote of thanks was presented to the participants by Mr Kashif Hafeez.