Punjab University arranges a special ceremony for special children

Lahore: Punjab University Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Mujahid Kamran has said that special children are not burden on society and are full of talent. He said that Allah had blessed them with the wealth of feelings and special capabilities.

He was addressing a colorful ceremony organized by Punjab University Department of Special Education at Al Raazi Hall here on Monday. Participants including MD Punjab Welfare Trust for Disabled Dr Amjad Saqib, Secretary Special Education Department Dr Ambreen Raza, Dean Faculty of Law Prof Dr Shazia Naureen Qureshi, Dr Mumtaz Akhtar, Dr Tehseen Mehmood, Incharge Department of Special Education Dr Humaira Bano and a large number of disabled persons participated in the event.

Addressing the ceremony, Dr Mujahid Kamran said that normal human beings could not feel the things which special persons could feel and realize because normal human beings were full of apathy. He said that Punjab University administration had taken exemplary steps for providing facilities to special students as they were being provided with free education, free accommodation etc and ramps would also be constructed for them.

Dr Amjad Saqib said that we must value people as a human being. He said that disabled persons were not actually disabled but they were victim of our socially disabled environment. He said that we must provide maximum facilities to special persons and deal with them equally.

Dr Ambreen Raza said that school enrollment of special children was a great challenge for the government and society. She said that out of 2 million special children, unfortunately, only 28 thousand children were enrolled in schools. She said that we were facing lack of funds and infrastructure in facing the challenge and involving private sector to increase enrollment. She said that with the financial assistance of the British government, new institutions would be opened for special children in Muzaffargarh and Bahawalpur this year while such institutions would be opened in other 9 districts in the five-year plan. She said that the employment quota of special persons had also been increased from 2 to 3 percent. She urged the participants to take part in awareness campaign regarding special persons.

Dr Humaira Banu said that special persons could achieve big goals if they were provided with facilities and opportunities. Earlier, Dr Naeem Raza of Government College University Faisalabad briefed the participants regarding low-tech and high tech technological equipment being used by the special persons.

On the occasion, special students presented a tableau highlighting discriminatory attitude of the society towards disabled persons. Special students also presented national songs, poems and performed on the Kalam of Baba Bulleh Shah. Special paintings made by ‘special artists’ were also shown to the audience. Later, shields were distributed among the distinguished guests and participants.