Dialogue Held for Persons with Disabilities in Sahiwal

Deputy Director of Special Education Sahiwal, Madam Sumaira, emphasized to parents the importance of enrolling their children with disabilities in educational institutions.

She stated that children with disabilities are not only provided with education but also taught various skills. “We need to change our mindset that people with disabilities are incapable,” she said.

She expressed these views while addressing a district-level dialogue organized in Sahiwal by the Lodhran Pilot Project and Awaz Do Program, focused on the rights, inclusion, and empowerment of persons with disabilities.

The dialogue was attended by representatives from the Department of Social Welfare, Technical and Vocational Training Institute, Sahiwal Chamber of Commerce, Dar-ul-Aman, members of the Awaz Do District Forum, village forums, men and women with disabilities, Awaz change agents, and other community representatives.

Madam Sumaira stated that the purpose of the dialogue was to promote awareness about the rights of persons with disabilities, highlight the challenges they face, and bring all stakeholders together on one platform to pave the way for inclusive and equitable policy-making.

Principal of the Technical and Vocational Training Institute, Muhammad Yaqoob, stressed that persons with disabilities should work on improving their skills with a positive mindset.

“They should strive to become self-reliant rather than depending on others,” he said.

Assistant Director of Social Welfare, Sobia Naheed, informed the participants about the facilities and services available for persons with disabilities through her department.

Representative of the Chamber of Commerce, Madam Naghmana, stated that she is developing a comprehensive plan through the chamber’s platform to create employment opportunities and provide vocational training for persons with disabilities, aiming to make them economically self-sufficient.

Participants discussed in detail the social barriers and challenges persons with disabilities face in accessing education, healthcare, and employment.

At the end of the program, all participants expressed a collective commitment to promoting the rights, equal opportunities, and full inclusion of persons with disabilities.