PHOTOS: Erbil rolls out tactile paving for visually impaired pedestrians

Kurdistan 24 2023/10/16 11:14

An Erbil resident with visual impairment walks on the newly installed tactile paving surface in the capital's main market, Oct. 16, 2023. (Photo: Erbil governorate)

Providing such accessibility-friendly services for those with vision impairment is a “moral duty,” Khoshnaw said.

ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – Kurdistan Region’s capital Erbil has become the first city in Iraq and its Kurdish region to officially roll out tactile paving, a textured ground surface indicator to assist pedestrians with vision impairment to safely navigate their surroundings, according to a top local official.

The city’s governor, Omed Khoshnaw, and municipality workers, along with a number of vision-impaired residents, gathered early Monday to witness the installment of the first phase of the paving on a pedestrian path next to Parki Shar (City Park) in the capital.

A number of visually impaired Erbil residents standing for a group photo at the newly installed tactile paving surface, Oct. 16, 2023. (Photo: Erbil Governorate)

Providing such accessibility-friendly services for those with vision impairment is a “moral duty,” Khoshnaw said, adding it is the first-of-its-kind accessibility project that is implemented in the country.

The project will include major pedestrian streets around the bustling Erbil bazaar (market), which are often frequented by numerous people with vision loss.

Erbil governor, members of an association for the visually impaired people installing tactile paving surface in the Kurdish capital, Oct. 16, 2023. (Photo: Erbil Governorate)

Tactile paving is a yellow-colored textured surface that helps people with visual impairment to easily navigate the path of travel.

The head of an association for visually impaired persons expressed his delight in the new project.

"It is a historic day ... Erbil is on the path of civilization," he said.

Erbil governor, members of an association for visually impaired people gathering in Erbil to witness the installment of tactile paving for the first time in Iraq and Kurdistan Region, Oct. 16, 2023. (Photo: Erbil Governorate) — The Erbil governor and members of an association for visually impaired people gathering in the Kurdish capital to witness the installment of tactile paving for the first time in Iraq and Kurdistan Region, Oct. 16, 2023. (Photo: Erbil Governorate)