ISLAMABAD: Minister for Capital Administration and Development Division (CADD) Dr Tariq Fazal Chaudhry on Tuesday said in the absence of long overdue census the government did not have complete data of special children.

He was speaking at a seminar held at Directorate General of Special Education to mark World Autism Day.

“Terrorism in was the reason behind the cancellation of census,” the minister said. He, however, said that state was responsible for providing all out support to the children with disabilities.

Based on guesswork, he said, around one million children were suffering from disabilities and the government was determined to provide them latest facilities.

The minister also urged parents to take care of children with disabilities as they deserved more attention.

He said five special education centres of Islamabad had been transferred to the ministry of CADD. Now the ministry would provide them latest facilities under the Prime Minister’s Education Reforms Programme.

The minister also commended the efforts of National Special Centre for Mentally Retarded Children for building an Autism Unit on self help basis, saying the centre was working successfully for training and educating autistic children besides creating awareness about the disease.

In her opening remarks, DG Special Education Ishrat Masood said the autism unit became operational in April last year.

She urged all schools to welcome these special children while adopting inclusive education. The DG said new technology and equipments would be provided to improve the quality of learning and listening of special children.

Dr. Hashim Raza of Pims shed light on the handling and management of the special children.

Earlier, special students presented tableau titled mother’s dream, which received huge applause from the audience.

Published in Dawn, April 6th, 2016