Adviser to Governor New York Dr Ijaz Ahmad has stressed on different communities to ensure the protection of people with special needs and provide them equal opportunities for employment.
In an event held in Nassau County, Dr Ijaz highlighted the plight of those who were left jobless during COVID-19 pandemic.
He said: “The pandemic is over but not the sufferings of those who have faced soaring unemployment during that time.”
Referring to a fresh survey, he said that about one in five adults in the city is currently facing some kind of disability.
According to US Census Bureau, there were almost 8,27,000 people with disabilities ranging between the ages of 16-64 in 2022.
It represents approximately 6.7% of the working-age population of the state. The data revealed by the New York State Comptroller is even more shocking. It shows that between 2020-2022, the number of working-age persons with disabilities grew 14.4% in New York and 10.9% across the United States of America.
However, this year, the governor has proposed increasing the number of state workforce positions designated under Civil Service Law for persons with disabilities from 1,200 to 1,700.
The member of the Advisory Council said: “Societies are uplifted when all the people join hands in supporting each other.”
Pakistani-American cardiologist Dr Ijaz is a member of the State Advisory Council that provides guidance to the Justice Center in the development of policies and regulations.
Early this year, Governor Kathy Hochal appointed Dr Ijaz as the first Pakistani-American to serve Justice Center Advisory Council. He was duly confirmed by the New York State Senate in June.
The fifteen-member council is appointed for three-year terms. Other members include William T Gettman (Albany County), Veronica Crawford (Saratoga County), Norwig Debye-Saxinger (New York County), Jason Hershberger (Kings County), Walter J Joseph (Dutchess County), Ronald S. Lehrer (Ulster County), Glenn Liebman (Albany County), Joseph Macbeth (Albany County),
Thomas McAlvanah (Westchester County), Judith A. O’Rourke (Erie County), Harvey B Rosenthal (Washington County), Mary K St Mark (Bronx County), Jeffrey Savoy (New York County), Euphemia Strauchn (New York County), Michael Agovino (Bronx County), Kathleen Gaffney-Bbb (Onondaga County), Geno DeCondo (Oneida County) and Winifred Schiff (Brooklyn County).
As far as Dr Ijaz is concerned, he is also the founding chairman of American Pakistani Public Affairs Committee. Similar to AIPAC, this bipartisan organisation holds fundraising from councilmembers to the presidential candidates. The basic aim of APPAC is to create support system for Pakistani and Muslim Americans to run for political offices across America.
He has recently visited Pakistan along with New York State Deputy Speaker Phil Ramos. During interactions with Pakistani authorities, the delegation had discussed ways to increase trade between Pakistan and the State of New York, curriculum exchange between the schools and open avenues for Pakistani nurses to work in the Empire State.
