PROJECTS

ENABLING PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES TO USE TELECOM SERVICES

INTRODUCTION:

Universal Service Fund announced to launch a special project for ‘Enabling Persons with disabilities to use telecom services’ in May 2008. This announcement was made, at an event organized by Ministry of Information Technology which was presided by the Prime Minister of Pakistan, Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani to mark the World Telecommunications Day.

Given below are the desired objectives to be achieved through this programme:-

   1. Assisting persons with disabilities to compete on even basis with their non-disabled peers
   2. Creating job opportunities for such people
   3. Creating an environment for them to get educated

In this connection, two programmes were launched under the Special Projects of USF (These projects are providing benefits to people in Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Sindh).

1) Project with Pakistan Foundation Fighting Blindness

Introduction

Universal Service Fund (USF) entered in a Special Project contract with Pakistan Foundation Fighting Blindness (PFFB) in September 2008 to ‘Enable Persons with disabilities to use telecom services’ with an objective to enhance the access of IT and telecom for people with disabilities. Ms. Saima Ammar, CEO, PFFB and Parvez Iftikhar, CEO-USF signed the contract, worth Rs. 6.1Millionon, on behalf of their respective organizations.

Objectives:

1) Digitalization of Audio World Library
2) Expanding assessable internet café at PFFB Islamabad

Current Status

The project has completed and Audio World Library and Internet Cafe' are functional at PFFB

2) Project with Al-Shifa Eye Trust

Introduction

Universal Service Fund (USF) signed contract of its Special Project with Al-Shifa Eye Trust to ‘Enable Persons with disabilities to use telecom services’ which aims to increase accessibility of IT and telecom for people with low vision on July 08, 2008. Col. Abdul Hameed Khan Hameedi, GM-Procurement, Al-Shifa Eye Trust and Parvez Iftikhar, CEO-USF signed the contract worth Rs. 25 Million on behalf of their respective organizations. Given below are the activities to be carried out through this programme:

Objectives

1. To strengthen the Low vision center at Rawalpindi hospital to make it a comprehensive Low Vision Unit of the country and a Center of Excellence through expansion of infrastructure, additional induction of trained professionals and provision of modern computerized low vision equipment.
2. To up-grade and replicate the low vision center at Sukkur (Sindh) through provision of modern computerized low vision equipment
3. To establish a low vision center at Kohat (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa), on the lines of Rawalpindi (Punjab) and Sukkur (Sindh) Low Vision Units.

Current Status:

Equipment has been procurred and installed and project has been completed