A Disability Survey of Restaurants in Lahore

The built environment in Pakistan has historically neglected to accommodate people with physical disabilities and continues to do so with no consideration for the severe limitations of such citizens. May they be restaurants, shopping centers, bus-stops, public-lavatories, there is no way for the handicapped to independently access these facilities. To demonstrate this issue in detail, a survey of about 80 restaurants was conducted in Lahore. These eateries are some of the busiest and high grossing restaurants and diners in their areas. The survey entailed evaluating the buildings that these places are housed in and their capacity to facilitate the physically challenged customers. The findings of this report have been documented in detail for policymakers, and designers in particular, in understanding the situation as it is. Accommodating the physically disabled population is a fundamental civic requirement and a human rights concern for any country of the world. In Pakistan it can no longer be overlooked or dismissed.