20000402Govt committed to welfare of the disabled: Safdar

Recorder Report

Lahore: Punjab Governor Lt. Gen. Mohammad Safdar (Retd), on Saturday said that the government is committed to the well-being of the disabled and taking various steps for their education and welfare.

Speaking at the annual prize distribution ceremony of the high school of the Pakistan Society for the Rehabilitation of Disabled (PRSD), the governor said although the present government had a substantially large establishment of over 60 institutions looking after the education and welfare of handicapped persons across the province, yet the active collaboration of NGOs could help further in serving the disabled.

He said he was making ceaseless endeavours to provide free-of-cost hearing aids to more than 4,000 children in the province.

He, however, made an appeal to the all motivated and public-spirited individuals as well as philanthropists and non-government organisations to come forward and donate liberally and generously for extending the much needed relief to the special children.

The governor announced financial assistance of Rs 0.5 million to help the society to expand its services. He said he was deeply impressed by the untiring and selfless devotion and working efficiency of the volunteers of the society.

Earlier, PSRD President M. H. Sherazi in her address of welcome, enumerated the achievement of the society in the treatment-corrective surgery as well as training and education of 150 disabled children.

She said in addition to carrying out more than 3,000 operations, 1,900 free appliance were provided to the needy persons every year while 113 disabled persons have so far been financially assisted to set up their own business.

Later, the governor gave away the prizes to the handicapped students.