ISLAMABAD, Dec 3: The social welfare and special education ministry, provincial and district governments and NGOs are engaged in providing special education, vocational training and treatment to persons with disabilities. This was stated by Federal Minister for Social Welfare and Special Education Zobaida Jalal, in her message on the “International Day of Disabled” on Saturday. The annual observance of the day is aimed at creating awareness and understanding disability issues and trends and to mobilize support for practical action at all levels by persons with disabilities.

In this regard, the minister said, more than 55 special education centres and vocational training institutes throughout the country were providing these services to physically as well as mentally-handicapped persons and those suffering from hearing and visual impairment.

According to the 1998 census, 2.49 per cent of the country’s population is disabled, she added.

To confront this mammoth challenge of bringing persons with disabilities into the mainstream of our society, the present government, under the dynamic leadership of President Gen Pervez Musharraf, has approved the first “National Plan of Action in the year 2002”, Ms Jalal added.

“The government is taking all possible measures to provide relief assistance and rehabilitation to these persons,” she said.

She urged the civil society and NGOs to assist the ministry in the rehabilitation of disabled persons in Pakistan and giving them a new life and a better future.

Ministry of Social Welfare and Special Education in collaboration with international and local NGOs organized a number of seminars across the country to mark this day.

The UN General Assembly decided on the World Programme of Action for Disabled People on December 3, 1982.—APP