Punjab CM launches initiatives for special children

LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif has introduced a series of groundbreaking initiatives aimed at improving the lives of special children across the province.

These initiatives encompass healthcare, education, employment, and safety measures to ensure the well-being and empowerment of children with disabilities.

As part of these efforts, 40,000 special children have undergone health screenings, leading to the diagnosis of various diseases. The government will provide free medical treatment to affected students. To improve attendance monitoring, Punjab has introduced a facial recognition system in special education institutions for the first time.

Key initiatives approved by CM Maryam Nawaz include: Launch of the special people employment programme and approval of the Rising Star Card to support special children; Introduction of a packed food meal programme for special children; Approval of nine electric buses for special children and installation of additional security cameras in schools, centres, and buses; Implementation of ring-fencing for the special education budget to ensure consistent funding; Establishment of vocational training centres in every district to equip children with essential skills for self-sufficiency. A digital smart room will be set up in each Special Education Centre of Excellence, integrating a touchscreen-based digital syllabus for visually and hearing-impaired students; Outsourcing of clinical psychologists and speech therapists to enhance learning opportunities and plans to hire foreign experts for specialized training and development.

During a briefing by SACM Sania Ashiq Jabeen, it was revealed that the province had categorised 6,500 mentally challenged children and developed a new syllabus tailored to their needs. Punjab is also implementing a monitoring system in the Special Education Department for the first time.

Other key developments include: Early autism diagnosis services in autism schools to facilitate timely intervention; Approval of a special syllabus for hearing-impaired children, including sign language integration; Establishment of the Special Education Information System and a helpline (1162) for special education services; Development of a Special Education Mobile App to assist students, parents, and educators; Upgrading 28 special education schools as ‘Maryam Nawaz Centres of Excellence’ across Punjab; Construction of new Government Special Education Centres in Vehari, Lodhran, Faisalabad, Sialkot, and Mianwali; Installation of 3,450 CCTV cameras for enhanced security.

A provincial control room will also be set up to monitor special education centres, ensuring efficiency and safety. Speaking on these reforms, CM Maryam said: “It is our firm resolve to bring a positive change in the lives of special children. Taking care of them is the foremost duty of a welfare state.”

Separately, Punjab CM Maryam Nawaz extended heartfelt congratulations to Pakistan’s ‘Special Heroes’ for their remarkable performance at the World Special Olympics, where they secured 11 medals, including 6 gold medals.

Praising their dedication and resilience, the chief minister described their victory as a moment of immense pride for the entire nation, highlighting their courage and determination.

“Our ‘Special Heroes’ have proven that no obstacle can stand in the way of hard work and perseverance,” she remarked, adding that the athletes who raised the national flag on the global stage are the true heroes of Pakistan.

Reaffirming the Punjab government’s commitment to supporting special athletes, Maryam assured that full patronage would be provided to help them achieve even greater success in future.

Meanwhile, renowned Islamic scholar Dr Zakir Naik visited former prime minister Nawaz Sharif and Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz at their residence in Raiwind. During the meeting, the scholar and PMLN leaders discussed various issues. However, no official statement has been released regarding the specifics of the conversation.