LAHORE, Dec 3: Punjab Special Education Minister Sohail Afzal says the government has decided to post district officers (special education) in all districts of the province.

Speaking at a meeting held in connection with the International Day of Disabled Persons here on Monday, he said the government was paying special attention to the welfare of disabled persons.

Special institutions had been established for providing them with free education and training. Scholarships being paid to toppers in primary and middle schools examinations would now be paid to position holders in secondary school, higher secondary and graduation examinations as well.

The minister said the children deprived of one sense usually excelled in others as compared to normal children. They could support themselves and become useful members of society if they were helped in developing such senses.

Labard: Lahore Businessmen Association for Rehabilitation of Disabled (Labard) President Pervaiz Malik has asked non-government organisations and civil society rehabilitate 200,000 disabled people living in the suburbs of the provincial metropolis.

Mr Malik said this at the inaugural ceremony of Labard Mela at Racecourse Park on Monday. He said the fair was held every year to encourage disabled people to live like normal human beings. All such people needed vocational training and jobs to enable them to earn their livelihood instead of depending on charity for living.

He said Labard offered training and jobs to disabled people and also provided medical treatment, cornea transplant and soft loans to them. He praised the role of the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) for providing technical and vocational training and jobs to disabled people.

LCCI acting president Yaqoob Tahir Izhar said rehabilitation of the disabled people was a challenge for society in the developing countries as their 10 per cent population was suffering from disabilities of different kinds.

A large number of children from various education and training institutions visited the fair and enjoyed the entertainment arranged for them.

Labard Mela for special children has become an annual cultural event in the city as is being participated by a large number of disabled people.

A large number special children belonging to various institutions took part in different activities.

Parks and Horticulture Authority Director General Raja Mohammad Abbas, LCCI President-elect Mohammad Ali Mian, Senior Vice President-elect Mian Muzaffar Ali, Vice President-elect Shafqat Saeed Piracha and former president Mian Misbahur Rehman also spoke.