PESHAWAR: Health Minister Khaliqur Rehman has called upon the people affected with autism or poliomyelitis to seek rehabilitation services to be able to become useful citizens of the society and reduce burden of disable population.

“We need to extend technical and financial assistance and provide assistive devices to the people living with different kinds of disabilities to enable them to move around and stay part of the society,” the minister told a ceremony held on the occasion of free medical camp for polio-affected people at the Habit Physiotherapy Complex (HPC). On the occasion, he distributed free wheelchairs among 20 handicapped persons.

“With the advancement in the field of medical sciences, new technologies have been used across the world to help the people with disabilities and save them from isolation and disintegration from the society.

Wheelchairs distributed among 20 people

The government will support all such welfare organisations extending assistance to the differently-able people,” he said.

The health department was ready and would welcome suggestions for making arrangement at the government level to help children affected by Autism.

In case of no support, the disabled people face host of issues including their inclination towards begging, a major issue, he said.

Mr. Rehman on the occasion visited speech therapy, psychology, physical therapy and other sections at the HPC for rehabilitation of the people suffering from stroke, cerebral palsy and polio.

Dr Mahboobur Rehman, chairman HPC, said that they had been organising rehabilitation camps for polio patients as there was no effective treatment available for them.

“We have special children in our inclusive school where they get education with normal students. A concept about inclusive education for special children as well as their rehabilitation has also been sent to the government,” he said.

Children with autism, cerebral palsy and those affected by polio could learn along with normal students in the same classrooms but we required government’s support, he said.

He said that disabled people needed services to improve their lifestyle and reduce their dependency on others for carrying out routine work.

According to him, the first training was to enable the special children how to hold pen, change clothes, wear socks and shoes and attend bathrooms.

Inclusive education had gained worldwide currency where people with disabilities were being trained how to drive vehicles through modification, ensuring accessibility through adapted designs and approaches, he said.

Published in Dawn, May 3rd, 2026