KARACHI, Feb 19: The Corps Commander Karachi, Lt-Gen Ather Ali, has underlined the need for institutionalising the training process for the disabled and handicapped persons to help them become self-confident and active members of society.

Speaking as the chief guest at a programme of the Organisation for Welfare of Special Persons (OWSP) on Saturday night, he urged people to contribute in any way they could to supplement the efforts of the OWSP to achieve its noble cause of welfare of the disabled.

He said special persons were part of any society and it didn’t mean that they should be excluded from being its active members.

He emphasized that, in an organised and institutionalised manner, they should not only be encouraged but should also be supported as well as guided to ensure that they could also achieve and deliver.

He assured the organization’s administration of all possible cooperation.

Later, he inaugurated the countrywide campaign of distribution of 10 million white canes to the blind by giving away one to each blind person present on the occasion.

The president OWSP thanked President Pervez Musharraf for raising the scales of the disabled up to BPS-22, which previously ranged from BPS-1 to 15 only.

The Secretary Planning OWSP, Imran Khanzada, informed that his organisation had conceived a plan to establish a vocational school where special persons from in and around Karachi would be imparted training to enable them to earn a living independently, for themselves and their families.

He said acquisition of five acres of land was required to execute the plan. The project envisaged construction of a training centre, administrative block, hostel and a clinic.

Barrister Shahida Jamil also spoke. The programme was also attended by former governor Sindh Moinuddin Haider, known businessman SM Munir, business elites and people from different walks of life.—APP