Ninety-three wheelchairs were distributed among differently-abled deserving persons, here on Thursday. These wheelchairs were distributed in a ceremony which was held at the Sargodha Arts Council under the auspices of the Department of Social Welfare and Bait-ul-Maal. The initiative is part of the Punjab Chief Minister’s Punjab vision to make differently-abled individuals empowered and active members of society. 

Commissioner Sargodha Jahanzaib Awan was the chief guest and other notable attendees included Member of Punjab Assembly Mian Ikram-ul-Haq, former parliamentarian Hameed Hameed, Abdul Razzaq Dhillon, ADCG Muhammad Abu Bakar, Director Social Welfare Shakira Noreen, and Deputy Director Zeba Andlib. Addressing the ceremony, the Commissioner Jahanzaib Awan said that the real guests of honour were the special individuals present, who deserve society’s utmost care, compassion, and support. 

He stated that the Punjab government is turning the vision of a welfare state into reality through special programs for persons with disabilities. He highlighted that a total of 910 applications from differently-abled individuals across the division were received, which were being carefully processed in phases for the provision of wheelchairs, prosthetic limbs, and other assistive devices. In the current phase, 93 individuals were provided with wheelchairs. 

The Commissioner also acknowledged the special interest of Chief Minister Punjab, Maryam Nawaz Sharif, in the welfare of these individuals. He lauded initiatives like the “Himmat Card,” a revolutionary program under which a monthly financial aid of Rs 10,500 is being provided to eligible persons with disabilities. He further stressed that providing only financial aid is not enough ensuring dignity, employment opportunities, and full social inclusion is a shared responsibility. 

Society, he said, must replace sympathy with equality and support so that these individuals can lead lives of dignity and self-respect. Following the addressing, the Commissioner and other dignitaries personally met with the beneficiaries, offered kind words and encouragement, and expressed their heartfelt good wishes.

Credit: Independent News Pakistan (INP)