KARACHI, Aug 29: Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ibad Khan on Wednesday lauded an ongoing venture through which about 450 disabled persons would be provided with artificial limbs free of cost, and said that such initiatives not only empowered the incapacitated people but also allowed them to join the mainstream with a sense of pride and self-respect

He was speaking as chief guest at the ceremony for the establishment of the Dow University Artificial Limb (Dual) Centre and the inaugural of the Institute of Medical Technology of the Dow University of Health Science (DUHS).

The governor said that the government would always support projects that were aimed at benefiting the common man.

Dr Ibad, who is also the chancellor of DUHS, said that the government had been according top priority to the health and education sectors. The budget pertaining to higher education in the country, which used to be 0.2 per cent of the total GDP, has now been increased to two per cent, he claimed.

He urged government and non-governmental organisations to come up with more projects that have a direct and positive impact on the lives of the masses. He congratulated the people availing the artificial limb facility at DUHS and hoped that they would now be able to maintain themselves in a more befitting manner.

Earlier, Vice-Chancellor of DUHS Prof Dr Masood Hameed Khan informed the chief guest and the audience that under the project, which had been initiated with the technical and resource support of the MVSS, a foot school from Jaipur (India) in collaboration with the Rotary Club and Haswa, more than 200 needy persons have been provided with artificial limbs in Karachi.

Limbs will be fitted for another 250 people in a week’s time, he added, saying that the cost had been borne by the Sindh governor.

He said that in view of the importance of artificial limbs in the life of disabled persons, DUHS had set up a permanent centre to ensure the extension of the facility to people from other parts of the country. The MVSS has also agreed to transfer the relevant technology to DUHS.

Dr Feroze Ismail of Haswa and Mohammad Owais of the Rotary Club also spoke.