This report from the Economist Intelligence Unit and British Council was one of the first to use social and human rights based models to call for a change in attitudes towards people with disabilities in Pakistan. 

As many as 27 million people in Pakistan may be living with disabilities, both intellectual and physical. Stigma is prevalent throughout the country, which results in invisible communities of people isolated from society, and a culture of segregation from early education. It is estimated that Pakistan loses between 4.9 and 6.3 per cent of GDP every year through these policies. 

This report calls for a more inclusive and adaptive approach to disability in Pakistan through a clear set of recommendations. It advocates a shift from pity to dignity and acceptance, enabling people with disabilities to fully integrate into education and employment – to the benefit of themselves, the economy and the wider community.