Pakistan: I can see changes coming now! (April 2003)

By Muhammad Shafiq ur Rehmanhis

This article originally appeared in the April 2003 issue of "Normalization" published by the Japanese Society for the Rehabilitation of Persons with Disabilities

My home country Pakistan and my hometown Lahore

I am from the town named Lahore, Pakistan, which is far away from Japan. It is a historical town that used to be the center of art and academia of the Mogul Empire in the 16th century. There are many historical buildings in the old part of town, for instance the Fort, whose construction began during the reign of Akber Emperor and the Victorian houses were made during the era controlled by the English.

People say Lahore is "the Heart of Pakistan". Its population is approximately 8 million and it is estimated that 10 % are disabled persons. It is almost impossible for wheelchair users to pass through many old winding alleys in the town, and there are usually steps in front of the buildings. People, especially elderly people tend to protect historical things and are bound by old customs, conventions and prejudice. In addition, disability issues do not surface as social problems because families feel ashamed of having someone with a disability, and try instead to solve the issues as a family problem. As a result, most disabled people stay at home and do not come out to the community. Their literacy rate is very low and most of them cannot afford education. This situation is not only observable in Lahore, but throughout Pakistan. It is said that 80 % of the population lives in the rural areas, where the circumstances for the disabled people are even more miserable, as people tend to be trapped in conventions and prejudice more than in big cities. Disabled people seen in the streets are either beggars or on exhibition.

Even though the laws and legislation are finally being developed for disabled persons, the reality is that only a few are implemented. For instance, there is a quota system for the employment and entry of disabled people at universities, but its accomplishment rate is very low and the endeavor does not appear to be at all enough. Besides, disabled people themselves do not seem to be aware of their rights.

In spite of all this, Lahore gives a sense of a "new breeze" as it is home to many universities, including Panjab University, where there are young people strolling around, including foreign students. In addition, a wide road was newly developed to the new airport. The roadside evergreen trees are beautiful by the canal, crossing the new road. It is in this town that I have continued to work with my friends since my teens for the disability movement.

My awakening

I stayed as a trainee for the third Duskin Leadership Training Program in Japan for 10 months between the end of August 2001 and the beginning of July 2002. I met many great people and had plenty of new experiences. The acquaintances through the Independent Living Movement thoroughly changed my thoughts about the disability movement. I felt I was finally awakened to the world. In one word, this training program changed me entirely.

On July 9th 2002, I went back home to Lahore, where I grew up, reborn with a lot of new experiences and aspirations. Many friends came to the airport to see me and in the first week, I had a large number of visitors asking me about my experiences in Japan. This led me to believe that I could do it. However the number of visitors went down as the days went by and my aspirations faded away as I talked with them.

It was only me that had changed. My town and my people were the same as 10 months before. When I realized it, I was very depressed. I wanted to run away from my own country.

What rescued me from this situation were the advice and words of encouragement from the leaders with disabilities and friends in Japan. It was a big turning point for me that I again visited Japan last October. While I stayed in Japan for the International Disability Forum, I was so much empowered by talking with the leaders whom I had known from my previous training. I could make my plan concrete that had been just an idea.

Seeing changes

There were two plans I brought back from Japan in October. One was to form an independent living center in Lahore and another was to hold an international seminar in cooperation with the Japanese leaders. I worked hard to implement them after going back home. I proceeded to prepare for the seminar while I carried on with the center's activities like organizing workshops to expand the philosophy of the IL Movement and visiting houses where disabled people lived. I met and talked with people everyday. The number of fellows who came to join me increased after a little while, and then they started to work with me.

In the middle of the night of February 6th, twelve Japanese leaders with disabilities arrived at the Lahore Airport. It was the first such visit ever seen in Pakistan. From the next day, we held a two-day seminar to enlighten people on disability issues, and had a workshop on the third day to train Pakistani leaders with disabilities. We also had a kite festival for a cultural interchange. The group, which consisted of many wheelchair users, attracted people's attention everywhere and brought about great influences. At first, a lot of disabled people were enlightened. Then the city officers who had not given us any chance to meet finally agreed to hold a meeting to listen to our opinions. The vice mayor declared that they would make Lahore an accessible city. Now we are strongly trying to appeal to the city to implement it.

Recently a woman with a muscular dystrophy started to live independently. This is an epoch-making event considering Pakistani family customs. Our office is now very cheerful because many people come and go. In addition, the city has begun to talk about putting ramps in public facilities. We can now see changes coming little by little.

All these things were products of the relationship with Japan. The changes have just begun to take place. There are still many things I would like to learn from the leaders in Japan. With the blessed human network, I intend to carry on working to make a better Pakistani society where everyone can live equally.