ISLAMABAD, April 22: Private-public partnership is of vital importance for the healthy upbringing of the special children since the government is unable to shoulder this responsibility alone.

This was stated by the secretary, ministry of women development, social welfare and special education, Ms Parveen Qadir Agha at the launching ceremony of Portage Parent Association of Pakistan (PPAP) at the National Institute of Handicapped (NIH) here on Monday.

“Unfortunately, this section of the society is continuously being ignored which otherwise should be given proper attention,” she said.

“Special Children Education (SCE) should be given fundamental importance so that the special people could play their due role in the nation-building process.”

God has bestowed the special people with certain abilities that need to be explored through proper education and special attention of the people, she maintained.

“As far as the government is concerned,” Ms Parveen said, “it is taking every possible step within its limited resources to facilitate them.”

Munawer Fatima, the PPAP founder president, said the main objective of the association was to create awareness among general public about the problems being faced by the special people.

“The PPAP will help the parents share knowledge with regard to their special children,” she said, adding “this exercise should be encouraged at every level of the society.”

“We are also planning to form a Family Support Council, comprising medical and paramedical professionals to take up the issue of reasonable upbringing of the special children,” she added.

She called upon the people to take the special people as normal citizens, as they were quite conscious about their disability.