In this page; Background, Survey / Audit Report, Photos from Audit
In September 2007, Founder Chairman DANISHKADAH had opportunity to attend International Conference on Accessible Tourism (ICAT 2007) at UN-Convention Center Bangkok Thailand. He not only gave a presentation on "Accessible Tourism from the perspective of Deaf and Hard of Hearing People" but also learnt a lot from other speakers from all over the world.
And as usual on his return, he plans to share his learning from ICAT-2007 and to promote "Accessible Tourism" in Pakistan. And as a first step he invites Mr. Ghulam Nabi Nizamani (member Advisory board of DANISHKADAH and Chief Executive ASHA) to conduct a general Audit of Karachi city. And done a two days audit of various tourists interest places in Karachi.
And after this survey we are ready to organize a seminar on "Accessible / inclusive Tourism" in which we will invite all the stake holders (Government, Disabled People Organizations, Hotel, entertainment, transport, and construction industry, along with universities and institutes). Seminar date will be announced soon here on our website. Interested parties, individual may contact at info @ danishkadah.org.pk
by: Muhammad Akram (DANISHKADAH)and Ghulam Nabi Nizamnai (ASHA)
Date: 20-21 April, 2008
City: Karachi - Pakistan
Places visited: Parks / Museum (06), Hotels / Motels (09), Shopping Mall (02), Cinemas (02), ATMs, etc.
The purpose of this survey / general audit was
General: We felt that there is almost no awareness about the accessibility at any place, even though the staff and other people always seem cooperative and willing to support. The people who manage and build the places don't know "what accessibility is?" (During our visit one of Executive Officer of a park requested our guidance for making the park accessible, and assured his cooperation). Mostly, constructing or placing ramps/slopes here and there is all what they have.
We believe that, a good change is possible with proper planning and long term persistence. Follow ups, and keep tapping on shoulders of the concerned authorities, with both top to bottom and bottom to top approach. And we must avoid appreciating short term "show off" and "fire and forget" type solution, such as dangerous inappropriate slopes.
In our opinion we need Twin-track approach a targeted awareness rising and orientation of concerned, and proposing implementable, sustainable and technically sound, Cost efficient solution for accessibilities. Joining the hands with architectures (and schools for architectures) will be good approach for long term change.
Above is just summary, we have recorded our finding of all the places we visited, in detail. And may published some time later.
Almost all ATMs have step in front, some ATMs are in rooms with narrow doors.
No concept of curb for wheelchair, baby's pushcarts, on footpaths, in whole city. Hoever in front of shop shops they built slope for their goods' carts.
Except a few. almost all hotles have one or more step at Entrance.
Guest house business is growing in Karachi ther are so many new guest house exist in rented house. some of them are more accessible than other. Tours' guide should know which guest houses are more accessible so they can help the tourist with disabilities.
Toilet is the main problem everywhere whether its hotel, park, or shopping mala. Almost ever toilet has a step at entrance, most of the toilets have Narrow doors, some toilets have high mounted fixed shower. Some toilets do not have enough space to move wheelchair.
1. many steps at ever level of Bagh Ibn-e-Qasim, 2. Safri Park has slopes but most were borken and not built properly, although Executive Officer of Safari Park was positive and assured or reconstruction of slops.
Mizar-e-Quaid has sloopes at ever level along with steps, but not at very initial level. At once side of the Mizar there is lift but that was out of order, alos this side has reserved parking and proper sloop, however this is not mentioned at any gate, and if wheelchair user enter from other side he / she would face barriers.
All Cinema halls have step, one have slope inside, no access to galary. Two of the shopping mall has slope although one is built for shopping carts and very high and have steps insdie other has well develope slope and no barrier insdie, except that toilets are not accessible.
