PHA orders barrier-free offices, makes accessibility mandatory for persons with disabilities

• DG says initiative aims to ensure dignity, ease and independence for all visitors

• Offices to feature wheelchair-accessible entrances, ramps and dedicated parking bays

 LAHORE: The Punjab Horticulture Authority (PHA) has directed all horticulture agencies under its jurisdiction to ensure mandatory accessibility features in their offices to facilitate persons with disabilities, Director General Raja Mansoor Ahmad said on Sunday.

Approved by the provincial chief architect department, the initiative includes designated car parking spaces and dedicated wheelchair-accessible routes.

Parking bays will display the International Symbol of Access (ISA) — the white wheelchair emblem on a blue background — indicating facilities reserved for persons with disabilities or limited mobility.

The buildings will also include designated alighting zones: level, obstruction-free spaces to enable safe entry and exit for persons with disabilities, mobility aids users, and individuals with sensory sensitivities.

An accessible pathway will connect parking and alighting areas directly to the main entrances of each building. Every office will feature at least one wheelchair-accessible entrance, which must be clearly visible, well-lit and fitted with smooth flooring for ease of movement.

Reception areas and lobbies will be designed for easy identification from entrances and will feature colour contrast with surrounding walls and flooring in line with international accessibility standards.

District agencies have also been directed to assess the need for illuminated, low-rise staircases with handrails on both sides, along with installation of ramps wherever required.

Lifts will be installed in accordance with government guidelines to ensure full accessibility for persons with disabilities.

Corridors must be at least one metre wide and provide sufficient turning space for wheelchair movement. In older buildings with level differences, ramps will be installed to ensure smooth accessibility.

Doors will be designed for minimal effort operation, with lever handles preferred over knob-type fittings. In buildings with revolving doors, a separate accessible swing door will be provided alongside.

Accessible toilet facilities will be ensured in both male and female washrooms, each equipped with an emergency alarm button near the water closet.

International accessibility symbols will be displayed wherever required across facilities to guide users effectively.

According to DG Raja Mansoor Ahmad, the initiative reflects PHA’s commitment to inclusivity and equal access to public services.

“We want all visitors, including differently abled persons, to access PHA offices with dignity, ease and independence,” he said, adding that accessibility should be treated not as an optional feature but as a fundamental requirement in public service delivery.

He said district horticulture agencies had been instructed to implement the prescribed standards and identify infrastructure gaps to ensure full compliance.

Separately, on the horticulture front, the PHA has also directed regional agencies to launch extensive plantation drives to enhance green cover across Punjab. District bodies are also focusing on landscape beautification, installation of monuments, decorative lighting structures and other urban enhancement projects aimed at improving the aesthetic appeal of cities.