KARACHI, Jan 20: A group of more than 100 handicapped children enjoyed an exciting outing at a high-standard seaside restaurant where they also participated in a music programme here on Sunday.

They danced together for hours and were enthralled by fellows and other performers.

The function was part of the ‘Fun & Food’ programme, a series of outdoor functions, organized by the noted artist and social worker, Jimmy Engineer who usually selects different groups of 100 handicapped children each for a get together and makes them enjoy a party full of fun at five star and other hotels in the city.

During the function, Sonia, Rubab, Aminat, Musliha, Rahat, Batool and Sohail, belonging to Ida Rieu School, led by the famous stage and TV artiste, Farzana Naz, enthralled the audience with some national and folk songs.

A group of special children of the same school, Rubail, Faisal, Imran and Mohsin Raza were led by their music teacher, Master Riaz Hussain, to present thrilling music holding the audience spellbound.

Speaking on the occasion, Jimmy Engineer said that ever since the start of the ‘Fun & Food’ two years back, the programmes used to be held successfully at least twice a month.

He reaffirmed his determination to continue the series which, he said, was aimed at providing the handicapped children a rare opportunity to have fun outdoors and visit posh hotels and restaurants in the city. The concept, he said, was to remove their sense of deprivation.

He reiterated that he would achieve the goal of getting due rights of the handicapped people in Pakistan restored and providing them the same privileges being enjoyed by their counterparts in developed countries.

He urged parents of the handicapped children not to feel shy of presenting their siblings to people. Instead, he said they should show off their children in public in order to help remove their sense of deprivation and develop confidence in them.

A get together between handicapped and normal people would contribute greatly in bridging the gap between the two which was the best way and extremely essential to rehabilitate the special children, he said.

Jimmy Engineer also called upon philanthropists to come forward and provide assistance to the institutions serving the handicapped people.

Shakeel Ahmed of the ‘Salt n Pepper Village’ said on the occasion that he was very much pleased to see the handicapped children laughing, dancing, singing and having fun. Such programmes, he said would make special people feel that they were an equally important part of the normal generation.

Fawzia Siddiqui, chief of Sada Welfare Foundation (an NGO working for the welfare of children) distributed gifts and presents among the children.

Children from Darul Sukoon, College for the Deaf and Blind, Darul Khushnood, Pakistan Rehabilitation Education Welfare Association, Burhani Blood Bank, and Madawa also participated in the programme.