Content: Summary Report: ………………………………1 Program Rundown: ……………………………3 Press Coverage: ……………………………….4 Picture Story: …………………………………..8
Summary Report: The Culture Fashion show, titled “Welcoming 2012: Culture Fashion Show of Persons with Disabilities”, was jointly organized by Special Talent Exchange Program (STEP), Monthly Pakistan Special, Embers and Shahzads Designs on December 29, 2011 in National Library Islamabad. Under this slogan, people with disabilities showcased their talent alongside contemporary models in a unique cultural fashion show at the National Library on Thursday. A cheerful young girl on a wheelchair, dressed in a brinjal-coloured hand-stitched dress, inaugurated the show. She was later joined by a male model who walked the ramp alongside his co-host. The models appeared on stage in twos, with one of each being physically disabled, and won great applause from the audience as they walked down the ramp confidently. “It was my first experience and given my disability I was nervous to face such a large crowd. But the encouragement I got from them put me at ease,” said Naseema, looking fabulous in a red and white dress. She suffered from polio when she was one and a half years old; she presently works as a receptionist at the Family Health Hospital. Shabab, 21, a student of B.Com said he loves to dress up but is often criticised by people for wearing western clothes. He said that due to his large sized foot, he can only wear tailor-made trousers. “But today I wore western clothes and the appreciation from the audience really built my confidence,” he said. Shabab too became a victim of polio when he was just one. Asfandyar, a physically challenged student of ACCA, said the cultural fashion show conveyed a message to the society that though we have a different way of moving about, we are not different from other normal human beings. “We have the sense of dressing and looking good and have an ability to showcase it on stage.” Talking to , STEP President Atif Sheikh said such a cultural fashion show a first for Pakistan. The purpose behind the show was to give the concept that a person sitting on wheelchair or having a white can on his hand has an equal right to look beautiful. He said special persons are rendering services in different fields and they want an inclusive society in which they can enjoy an independent life. The US ambassador’s wife, Dr Marilyn Wyatt, said the participants impressed her with their confidence and performance. She said she has personal interest in disability rights, being the mother, sister, and sister-in-law of persons with disabilities. “Today they have proved that they are powerful, unique, inspiring, beautiful, handsome and most of all confident,” she said.
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She added that such people are unique, powerful and impressive and expressed hope that the recently ratified United Nations Convention on Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) will open new doors for them. Special Education Director General Mustafain Qazmi said that under UNCRPD, his department is focusing on reforming current laws and regulations so that they are more inclusive of persons with disabilities. He said in the war against terrorism, a large number of people were left disabled. He said the government is working on their welfare but they need collaboration of all the stakeholders, including the civil society, philanthropists, private sector, non-government organizations and UN agencies. He said that in last Special Olympics held in Athens, Pakistanis won 57 medals. “They have always proved themselves to be capable and have proved their mettle in every field.�
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Program Rundown: Venue: National Library Islamabad
Detail
Time
Arrival of Guests
02:30 pm
Opening Speech
03:00 pm
Fashion Show
03:05 pm ~ 04:20 pm
Speech of the Chief Guest
04:20 pm
Vote of thanks
04:30 pm
Group Photo with Models
04:35 pm
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Press Coverage:
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The Daily Time
Link: http://www.thenews.com.pk/NewsDetail.aspx?ID=29594&title=PWD-stages-fashion-show-forhandicapped-
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Video Released on Dunya News. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BCA1rJpJ688
Video Released on ARY News. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NvqEDcAX9CA&feature=related
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Picture Story:
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