SIALKOT: Speakers urged the people at a ceremony on Monday to work for the welfare of the disabled people, especially visually impaired people, saying that motivation could help them to be in mainstream society as well.

They said everyone would have to change their thoughts towards the disabled people.

They stated this at a certificate and prize distribution ceremony at the auditorium of the Sialkot Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) on the completion of a month-long training course by 20 visually-challenged women from Sialkot, Lahore, Peshawar, Sheikhupura and Mandi Bahauddin.

The programme was held in Sialkot under the supervision of Sialkot-based philanthropists. SCCI Vice-President Abid Ahmed Khawaja, Dr Maryam Nouman, Mirza Imran Baig and others distributed certificates and prizes among the trainees who were taught culinary skills.

Shamsa Kanwal, one of the trainees, said that though she had no eyesight, as she was born blind, but she had a very broad vision for the development of the humanity, especially for the visually impaired people.

Dr Nouman hailed the performance of the participant women and said that love, care, affection and better social attitudes were needed to make the visually impaired people the useful citizens of Pakistan.

Trainees Mirza Imran Baig (chairman of the Pakistan Facilitation Center for the Disabled Persons), Sana Mir, Saima Shabir, Amina Jalal, Iram and Hira also demanded a nation-wide survey to find the exact population of the disabled people in Pakistan. They said that there was no proper data on the disabled people with any department.

They also urged the government to ensure the early establishment of a special helpline for them, saying that the helpline would help them resolve their problems.

They also shared their experience of the training. Blind women can join the free cooking training programme.

Published in Dawn, July 31st, 2018