UNITED NATIONS,
September 3: The United Nations General Assembly has unanimously adopted a landmark Pakistan-led resolution aimed at promoting sustainable and equitable access to assistive technology worldwide.
Speaking during the consideration of the resolution, Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, emphasized that assistive technology can help bridge the gap between dependence and autonomy, deprivation and inclusion, and capabilities and opportunities.
He said around 2.5 billion people worldwide require one or more assistive products, devices or services, while millions still lack access to the technologies they need.
Pakistan stressed the importance of ensuring sustainable access to quality, affordable and appropriate assistive technology, particularly for people most at risk of being left behind.
The resolution calls for stronger international cooperation, financial support and technical assistance, especially for countries facing resource and capacity constraints.
Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad highlighted the transformative role of assistive technology, saying it can enable children to access education, adults to participate in employment and older persons to live with greater independence.
Pakistan has described access to assistive technology as a comprehensive development priority linked to education, employment, health, social protection and meaningful participation in society.
The resolution also identifies affordability, availability, inadequate infrastructure, shortages of trained personnel and unequal access to technology as major barriers preventing millions of people from benefiting from assistive solutions.
Pakistan called for assistive technology to become an integral part of humanitarian preparedness and response systems, including during armed conflicts and natural disasters.
“Technology fulfils its best purpose when it expands human potential,” Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad said.
The Pakistan-led resolution encourages countries to develop national strategies, priority assistive-product lists, research and innovation programmes, improved data systems and effective procurement mechanisms to enhance access.
Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad said the fundamental objective of improving access to assistive technology was to ensure human dignity, choice and opportunity, stressing that no person’s potential should be limited simply because empowering technology remains beyond their reach.
Pakistan has played a longstanding leadership role in advancing assistive technology at the international level. In 2018, a World Health Organization resolution on improving access to assistive technology was also adopted by consensus following Pakistan’s initiative.
Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad appreciated all UN delegations for their constructive engagement, flexibility and valuable contributions that helped achieve consensus on the latest resolution.
The resolution was prepared and negotiated by Counsellor Saima Saleem of Pakistan’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations. Saleem, Pakistan’s first visually impaired career diplomat, herself uses assistive technology.
