Pakistan Foundation for Fighting Blindness (PFFB) and Al-Shifa Trust Eye Low-Vision Center were awarded a project which will help visually impaired people to effectively use IT and Telecom services. Funding for this project is being done by Universal Service Fund (USF), Following is the press release from USF

Islamabad, May 17, 2008: Universal Service Fund has launched a special project for “Enabling Persons with disabilities to use telecom services” which aims to increase accessibility of IT and telecom for people with different disabilities.

This announcement was made by the Prime Minister of Pakistan, Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani, at an event organized by Ministry of Information Technology to mark the World Telecommunications Day. The theme for this years world telecom day was “Connecting Persons with Disabilities: ICT Opportunities for all”. In this connection, two programmes were launched under the Special Projects of USF.

Chief Executive Officer of USF, Parvez Iftikhar, shed light on the desired objectives of the said projects. He informed the audience that Board of Directors of USF in its 10^th Meeting approved the projects submitted by Pakistan Foundation for Fighting Blindness (PFFB) and Al-Shifa Trust Eye Low-Vision Center. The main objectives of these projects are to expand and upgrade the Audio World and IT helpline programmes being run by PFFB and up-gradation and establishment of computerized Low Vision Rehabilitation Centres by Al-Shifa Trust. These projects will also create job opportunities for such people by providing them telecom and IT related trainings and create an environment for them to get educated using appropriate technologies. Moreover, this initiative will enhance the social development, through ICTs, for the persons with disabilities and integrate them fully as productive elements in the society. He further said that he hoped this programme will help people with disabilities overcome their disability and assist them to compete on even basis with their non-disabled peers by using Telecom and E-services.

few days back Ministry of Information technology celebrated the ‘World Telecommunication and Information Technology day’ the theme for which was ’Connecting Persons with Disabilities: ICT Opportunities for all’.

This is a very pleasant news, now that the project is awarded what needs to be seen is how these two entities execute it, Alshifa-Trust has a very good reputation of being one of the best centers specially for the visually impaired, I am sure they will be able to utilize this fund to the best extent.

This small contribution from the telecom companies signifies the importance of giving back to the community, the telecom sector has reaped huge benefits from the untapped market in Pakistan and their gesture to help the soceity is a very welcome step.

Netxpress online also has detailed coverage of this here with, here is an exceprt from their story on what the CEO of USF Parvez Iftikhar had to say

Al-Shifa Tust Eye Hospital is one of the organizations, awarded the project. The project was awarded keeping in view the profound services of Al-Shifa Trust and their fight against blindness.” said Chief Executive Officer USF, Parvez Iftikhar.

He said that the project aimed at expanding and upgrading the Low Vision and Rehabilitation center at Al-Shifa Trust Eye Hospital.

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