MINGORA/MANSEHRA: Functions and rallies were held in Mingora and Mansehra to mark the International White Cane Safety Day on Wednesday.

In Mingora, the function was held at Swat Press Club, which was organised by the Pakistan Army in collaboration with the Pakistan Association for Blinds (PAB), Swat district, to highlight the problems and issues being faced by the visually impaired people.

A large number of students of the Institute for Blinds, Swat, and handicapped citizens participated in the function and rally, while army officials and local elders were also in attendance.

The students presented different skits, tableaus and performed on famous songs.

Col Sikandar Hayat said on the occasion that physically challenged people should be provided a proper platform and facilities so they could show their talent in an effective manner.

He said that the government should provide proper education facilities and relevant jobs to the handicapped.

He said that extra-curriculum activities should also be regularly arranged for the special people.

PAB Swat president Nasir Bacha demanded of the government to take immediate steps to resolve the problems of handicapped people. Later, certificates were distributed among special persons while the participants also held a rally to mark the day.

In Mansehra, people from different walks of life also held a rally to observe the White Cane Safety Day.

The rally started from King Abdullah Teaching Hospital and ended at the district council with the participants demanding facilities for the visually impaired people to make them beneficent citizens of the society.

Right to Live, an NGO, organised the rally, which was followed by an awareness programme at the district council.

Assistant commissioner Qasim Ali, PTI district information secretary Malik Mushtaq and RTL chairman Mohammad Bilal spoke on the occasion, saying that the government should give due rights to the visually imparted people to remove sense of deprivation among them.

Mr Mushtaq claimed that his party was giving due share of jobs to the visually impaired in the province.

Published in Dawn, October 16th, 2014