Islamabad: The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Pakistan spearheaded a national consultation titled “Making Elections Accessible and Meaningful for People with Disabilities in Pakistan.” This pivotal event called on both provincial and federal governments to ensure the effective implementation of national and international legal frameworks to remove voting barriers for persons with disabilities (PWDs).

According to United Nations Development Programme, the consultation was a culmination of prior discussions held across four provincial Focus Group Discussions (FGDs), emphasizing the need for accessible public buildings and comprehensive adherence to disability legislation. Key stakeholders, including PWD representatives, parliamentarians, and officials from national human rights and civil society organizations, developed action points aimed at enhancing accessibility for PWDs. These recommendations are set to be presented at the upcoming “National Implementation Framework on Enhancing Accessibility for Persons with Disability in Pakistan.”

The consultation underscored persistent challenges in implementing existing disability laws, particularly in making public buildings accessible, which are crucial for improving PWDs’ electoral and political participation. The event concluded with a strong consensus on the need for a collaborative and sustained effort among various government sectors and civil society to ensure that all citizens can exercise their fundamental right to vote.