Contributor: Shahzeb Nazar ali

According to WHO, nearly 31 million Pakistanis live with some form of disability. (Odhwani, 2023). Yet, society often disables them further by overlooking their abilities and offering sympathy instead of opportunity. But sympathy doesn’t pay bills. The struggle begins in childhood, long before they even understand what “disability” means. From the outset, society restricts not just their movements but also their dreams. As a result, people with disabilities find themselves trapped in a cycle of social, economic, and emotional challenges.

Disability in Pakistan is often seen as a divine punishment, which leads to shame and causes many families to hide their disabled children or refrain from sending them to school, believing that education will not lead to meaningful employment. Consequently, children with disabilities are ten times less likely to attend school than their non-disabled peers (Inclusive Education – Plan International, 2023). This lack of education severely limits job opportunities and further entrenches poverty and dependency. As per the World Bank Report, approximately 71% of disabled people in Pakistan are unemployed (Hafeez, 2022). Alarmingly, 62% of men and 87% of women with disabilities are financially dependent on their families. (Hussain et al., 2022)

Furthermore, people who are disabled never walk alone; they almost always bear the burden of poverty. In a country where 21.9% of the population lives below the poverty line (Van, 2025). Disability deepens the cycle of poverty, pushing already vulnerable households further into hardship. Moreover, the intersection of disability and poverty severely affects individuals’ physical and emotional health. Most persons with disabilities in Pakistan lack access to adequate healthcare, rehabilitation, or mental health support.

In today’s world, where sustainable development is a global priority, disability remains a significant challenge connected to many of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). With 2030 fast approaching, the UN’s Decade of Action urges faster progress. However, the promise of inclusive and sustainable development will remain unfulfilled unless disability-related barriers are acknowledged and addressed.

Strengthening healthcare systems for people with disabilities is essential to ensure no one is left behind. A key step is raising awareness among healthcare professionals. Nurses can play a transformative role by training staff, collaborating with multidisciplinary teams for accurate care, and developing disability-sensitive protocols. Enhancing communication and hospital infrastructure, like ramps, accessible washrooms, and signage, ensures dignified healthcare access, advancing SDG 3: Good Health and Well-Being.

Jean Watson’s Theory of Human Caring supports and helps to shape ways in which nurses can help people with disabilities, Watson initiated the Center for Human Caring, the nation’s first interdisciplinary center committed to developing and using knowledge of human caring for practice and scholarship. Watson’s framework urges nurses to go beyond physical treatment by fostering genuine human connections and advocating for social justice, inclusion, and equality. When applied to disability, the theory calls for environments where individuals with disabilities are seen, heard, and valued—not merely as patients, but as equal participants in society.

Overcoming barriers for persons with disabilities in Pakistan requires improving access to healthcare, education, and employment. By promoting inclusivity and shifting societal attitudes, we can build a more equitable society. Nurses and healthcare professionals are essential in driving these changes and advancing the Sustainable Development Goals for a more inclusive future.

References

Alligood, M. R. (2017). Nursing theorists and their work-e-book: nursing theorists and their work-e-book. Elsevier Health Sciences.

Van. (2025, April 25). Pakistan: poverty. Asian Development Bank. https://www.adb.org/where-we-work/pakistan/poverty

Inclusive education – Plan International. (2023, December 4). Plan International. https://plan-international.org/quality-education/inclusive-disability/

Hussain, S., Alam, A., & Ullah, S. (2022). Challenges to Persons with Disabilities in Pakistan: A Review of Literature. Journal of Social Sciences Review, 2(3), 35–42. https://doi.org/10.54183/jssr.v2i3.46

Hafeez, M. (2022). Practical measures for disabled’s empowerment – Time for economic growth! Pakistan journal of neurological sciences, 17(2). doi: https://doi.org/10.56310/pjns.v17i02.195

Odhwani, H. (2023). The Plight of Persons With Disabilities Retrieved from https://pide.org.pk/research/the-plight-of-persons-with-disabilities/

About Shahzeb Nazar ali

I am an MScN student at Aga Khan University Hospital Karachi. I completed my baccalaureate program in nursing in 2016. I have diverse experience at the bedside of nursing in the Emergency Department. I am dedicated and passionate about the nursing profession and have thoughts of growing the profession in our culture.