PESHAWAR, Sept 23: National Assembly Deputy Speaker Faisal Karim Kundi said on Sunday the government had initiated steps for welfare of persons with disabilities to bring them into national mainstream.

He was addressing as chief guest a function, organised by Skill Development Centre (SDC), Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Pakistan Baitul Mall with the assistance of Sahara Vocational Centre (SVC) in Dera Ismail Khan. Wheelchairs, sewing machines and certificates were distributed among orphans, needy and disabled children after completion of a six months course.

The deputy speaker said economic empowerment of persons with disabilities and their integration in mainstream income generation activities was essential for reformation of the society.

He stressed on multinational companies, business community and philanthropists to come forward and show commitment under corporate social responsibility for economic empowerment of persons with disabilities.

Mr Kundi said it was equally important to engage persons with disabilities and provide them guidance for utilisation of micro-credit facility to their benefit.

He said Pakistan Baitul Mall (PBM) was also taking measures for welfare of disabled persons, adding PBM had provided 1,000 wheelchairs for disabled persons of D.I. Khan and would give 200 more wheelchairs this year.

He maintained that PBM would send volunteers to Saudi Arabia for assistance of disabled pilgrims.

He said standard of Pakistan Baitul Mall had significantly improved owing to the effective management of its chairman Zamarud Khan, taking a lead role in rehabilitation and assistance of disabled, flood victims and children living in sweet homes.

The deputy speaker underlined the need for release of funds for acquiring land for setting up of welfare complex in D.I. Khan for uplift of persons with disabilities. He said he would soon take up this issue with chief minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

He said ‘we strongly condemn the anti-Islam movie, adding the government had observed the 'Yaum-i-Ishq-i-Rasool’ day to show ‘our deep love with the holy prophet’. He said peaceful protest was the right of every citizens, but ransacking and burning of government and private buildings by some miscreants during protest demonstrations served no purpose, and only pleased the anti-Islamic forces. He regretted over the loss of precious lives and damage to properties in the protest demonstrations and urged people to remain clam.

Mr Kundi said the Higher Education Commission had allocated Rs50 million for Gomal University of D.I. Khan, which also included initiation of work on Seraiki department.

He asked employees of Gomal University to withdraw their announcement for staging pen-down strike as it would serve no purpose. He said all genuine problems of the Gomal University employees would be addressed on priority basis.

He said Chasma Right Bank Canal Project and Waran Canal would help bolster agriculture and energy sectors in southern districts of KP. He said efforts would be made to include D.I. Khan and Tank districts in Seraiki province. — APP