11 February 2005	Friday	01 Muharram 1426

KARACHI, Feb 10: The city nazim, Niamatullah Khan, has urged the electronic media to start 'language sign programmes' to facilitate special children.

Addressing an inaugural ceremony of the Pakistan Association of Deaf (PAD) J.S. Academy, a school for special children, on Thursday, he said it was the responsibility of parents to arrange for the training and education of their special children, so they do not prove a burden on society.

He said the city government had handed over the school building to the PAD and a committee had been formed to run its affairs.

The nazim said that society owed the special children special attention, adding the administration should take steps to send all special children to schools to enable them to become useful citizens.

Quoting verses from the Quran, he said that Allah had ordered a better treatment to the disabled.

Laila Dossa, general secretary of the working committee, on the occasion said that special children and their parents were taught sign language at the school. She said that photography, fabric designing and other crafts were also taught to these children. She said there was no age restriction on admission to the academy, where special children belonging to the interior Sindh were also imparted education.

The president Pakistan Association of Deaf, Irfan, made a demand that persons with hearing impairment should also be given driving license.

Others spoke on the occasion included Town Nazim Ahmed Qasim Parekh, Musharraf Jamal and Shahila Ali.

Mr Niamat, Naseem Siddiqui, Dr Qazi Kamal, Jahangir Siddiqui and others, later, distributed awards among the special children.

The special children also performed various tableaux. - PPI