Disabled persons need special attention: minister

LAHORE: Punjab Minister for Primary and Secondary Healthcare Dr. Jamal Nasir has observed that our social attitudes towards special persons are gradually improving but still a lot more has to be done for the education and skills training of such people to benefit from their potential capabilities.

Addressing a ceremony in connection with the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, Dr Jamal said that although the relevant government departments are playing their role, special attention is needed to make them more active members of the society. He underscored the need for allocating more and more resources for rehabilitation of persons with special needs.

Dr. Jamal Nasir said that he will convey the recommendations of organisations of special people to Chief Minister Mohsin Naqvi with full responsibility and the caretaker provincial government will take all possible steps for them according to its mandate.

Dr Jamal said that the Punjab government has also developed a mobile app namely 'Enable' for solving the problems of special people so that they can be informed about government initiatives for them. He said that the demands regarding the job quota of special persons and their salaries are being reviewed so that the caretaker government can play its role in this regard. At the end of the event, 10 wheelchairs, 200 white canes, 40 hearing aids and 200 talking watches were distributed among the special people.

More rehab centres to be set up for special persons: minister

Caretaker Provincial Health Minister Prof Dr Javed Akram said that more centres would be established for the rehabilitation of differently-abled persons, he said this while addressing a seminar organised on the eve of World Day for Persons with Disabilities at a local hotel.

President Handicapped Association Amjad Siddiqui and a large number of ladies and gentlemen participated the event. The caretaker provincial health minister while addressing the participants congratulated the officials of the Handicapped Association for organising the best awareness seminar.

The minister said according to the vision of Punjab Chief Minister, we are trying to create convenience for the people. These special people are not disabled but differently-abled people. Allah Almighty has tested differently-abled people in this world. I have dedicated all my body parts to others. “The Department of Social Welfare and Baitul-Mal is not just a portfolio but it’s a mission to me,” he said, adding that social work should never be limited and service to humanity has no borders.