Disability Rights Campaigners Urge Action Ahead of Global Summit

Islamabad– Ahead of the third Global Disability Summit in Berlin on April 2-3, disability rights campaigners are urging the Government of Pakistan to move from promises to concrete action on disability inclusion. With the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) at risk of not being met, campaigners emphasize that world leaders must take meaningful steps to improve the lives of people with disabilities.

A recent UN report highlights insufficient progress on disability inclusion, with nearly 14% of SDG targets seeing stalled or reversed progress. The report identifies areas such as access to financial resources, healthcare, water, information and communication technologies, and building resilience during emergencies for people with disabilities.

Munazza Gillani, Director of Sightsavers Pakistan and the Middle East, emphasized the urgency of addressing these challenges in Pakistan. “Here in Pakistan, these challenges are all too real. Our government must use the Global Disability Summit to make specific, funded commitments that will make a real difference to the lives of people with disabilities—from education and healthcare to employment and protection from violence. The summit presents a unique opportunity for Pakistan to demonstrate leadership in disability inclusion, and we cannot afford to leave anyone behind,” she said.

In Pakistan, approximately 16% of the population lives with some form of disability, and many lack access to basic human rights. As Pakistan prepares to participate in the Global Disability Summit, it has a unique opportunity to reaffirm its commitment to the inclusive development and empowerment of people with disabilities. The government could use the summit to announce new initiatives, commitments, and partnerships aimed at promoting accessible healthcare, inclusive education, and decent employment for people with disabilities.

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Asim Zafar, Secretary to the National Coordinator of the Community-Based Inclusive Development Network, emphasized the urgency of addressing disability inequalities worldwide. “Around 1.3 billion people globally—nearly one in five of us—have a disability. Yet despite repeated promises of inclusion, people with disabilities continue to face deepening inequalities. Words are not enough to address these. We need urgent action on disability rights. Without a clear plan to implement recent commitments, we will fail to achieve our collective goal of a safe, inclusive, and sustainable world.”

Ahead of the summit, Sightsavers’ Equal World campaign is calling for the Government of Pakistan to ensure that the voices of people with disabilities, particularly young people, are heard. Several prominent civil society organizations, both national and international, from Pakistan will attend the summit, underscoring the importance of unity and collaboration among government bodies and other stakeholders in addressing disability inclusion.