PESHAWAR, Sept 26: The Pakistan Tobacco Company (PTC) on Tuesday set up a rehabilitation centre in Battagram for physically-handicapped people of the earthquake-devastated district and adjoining areas.

The facility named as PIPOS CHALL Rehabilitation Centre enjoys the technical assistance by PIPOS, Peshawar, says a press release issued here on Tuesday.

The centre established adjacent to the District Headquarters Hospital Battagram was formally inaugurated by the DCO, Battagram, Ameen-ul-Haq, and Managing Director of PTC William Toh.

Besides other officers of the district government and PTC, the director, PTC, Asia Pacific Region, Alain Schachor, Corporate Regulatory Offices PTC Ali Naseer, Member PTC Moeen Afzal and PIPOS representative Dr Bakht Sarwar also attended the opening ceremony.

Speaking on the occasion, Ameen-ul-Haq, DCO, Battagram, appreciated the PTC spirit to serve the needy and disabled people of earthquake-hit areas and said the centre set up by PTC will play a significant role for permanent rehabilitation of the physically-disabled and other earthquake-affected people of the district.

Assuring every possible cooperation by the district administration to make the centre fully functional and beneficial for the people, the DCO emphasised on other well-off business companies as well as other welfare organisations and generous individuals to follow the footsteps of PTC to serve the ailing humanity.

Dr Sarwar said that his organisation (PIPOS) was a unique institution of the entire Asian region which was working for rehabilitation and restoration of the damaged and suspended organ of human bodies, adding that PIPOS had also established four other rehabilitation centres in the earthquake-hit areas of Besham, Mansehra, Balakot and Bagh (AJK).

He said that physically-disabled persons of these districts had no alternative but to visit the other rehabilitation centres of far-flung areas.

He said the centre had been established for three years but it could be extended further if the need arose.

He said that medical specialists and other technical experts of PIPOS would train local people who may run the centre on a permanent basis.

He announced scholarships for four men and women to train them in this centre.—APP