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🇵🇰 Pakistan /Health & Science

UN Adopts Pakistan-Led Resolution on Access to Assistive Technology

From Dawn · () English

Translated from English and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

News Named sources Approved/passed
  • The UN General Assembly adopted by consensus the first resolution specifically devoted to access to assistive technology.
  • Pakistan said about 2.5 billion people need at least one assistive product, device or related service, while many face cost, infrastructure and staffing barriers.
  • The resolution covers products ranging from wheelchairs and prosthetic limbs to hearing aids, screen readers and communication devices.

The UN General Assembly has adopted by consensus a Pakistan-led resolution aimed at making assistive technology more affordable and accessible worldwide, especially in developing countries. It is the first General Assembly resolution devoted specifically to the issue.

Pakistan’s permanent representative to the UN, Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, said about 2.5 billion people around the world need one or more assistive products, devices or related services. Millions still cannot obtain them, he said, because of high costs, limited availability, inadequate infrastructure and services, restricted access to technology, and shortages of trained personnel.

The resolution addresses a broad range of assistive technology. The products and services cited include wheelchairs, prosthetic limbs, hearing aids, screen readers, communication devices and other digital solutions.

By adopting the measure through consensus, the General Assembly placed access to such technology on its agenda as a global issue, with particular attention to barriers facing people in developing countries.

These barriers included high costs, limited availability, inadequate infrastructure and services, restricted access to technology and shortages of trained personnel.

· Asim Iftikhar AhmadPakistan’s UN ambassador described the obstacles preventing millions of people from obtaining assistive technology.
About this summary

Originally published by Dawn in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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