SAHIWAL: The essential test for hearing and speech impairment required for disability certificates has not been available at the Sahiwal Teaching Hospital for a long time.
It was revealed in the 16th meeting of the District Welfare and Rehabilitation Unit chaired by Additional Deputy Commissioner (Social Services) Shabbir Butt at the Deputy Commissioner’s Office on Saturday.
The committee asked the MS of the Sahiwal Teaching Hospital to start the Brain Evoked Audiometry Test (BERA).
Mr Shabbir said special persons with any kind of disabilities were an integral part of society, and their welfare, rehabilitation, and protection of fundamental rights was a shared responsibility.
The meeting approved 17 general and 42 other cases under the Punjab Chief Minister’s Assistive Devices and Wheel Chair Programme and decided to ensure implementation of the mandatory 3pc job quota in private institutions.
The meeting also stressed the need to ensure the provision of ramps and other necessary facilities in public and private buildings in the city. The meeting further directed to implement the decision to grant 50 percent fare concession to disabled persons holding travel concession cards.
ADC Shabbir Butt instructed all relevant departments to ensure immediate and transparent execution of the decisions taken, so that persons with disabilities received their legal rights and essential facilities without delay.
Regarding the three percent quota of differently-abled individuals, it is learnt that among the 94 establishments, 27 have implemented the quota while the implementation process at 67 is still ongoing. Furthermore, the meeting was told that the labour department was ensuring the implementation of disabled quota in the private sector.
The meeting was attended by Social Welfare Deputy Director Muhammad Abbas Chauhan, District Health Officer Dr Muhammad Tahir Chaudhry, Sahiwal Teaching Hospital AMS Dr Usman Anjum, social activist Dr Mujtaba Jamal, Parwaz Society CEO Faheema Owais, Social Need Officer Amjad Ali Dhakko, Syed Ali Tahir Shirazi, Tevta Assistant Director Shehzad Farrukh, Labour Officer Rab Nawaz, and other relevant district officials.
Published in Dawn, October 12th, 2026
