Govt to initiate special programme to facilitate special students of universities: Shafqat.

ISLAMABAD -- Minister for Federal Education and Professional Training Shafqat Mahmood Thursday said that the government would initiate a special programme soon for facilitating and enhancing accessibility of people with special abilities in educational institutions.

Addressing as chief guest at "Electric Wheelchair Distribution Ceremony," organized by the Higher Education Commission (HEC) under Prime Minister's Electric Wheelchair Scheme for University Students, he said, "We need to play a leadership role and it is government's responsibility to facilitate special children in transforming their lives".

The minister distributed 42 electric wheelchairs among the students of 14 public sector universities.

Chairman HEC,Tariq Banuri, Executive Director HEC Lt. Gen. (Retd) Muhammad Asghar, Consultant CPEC Dr Fateh Marri, student recipients of wheelchairs and their parents, representatives of the universities were also present.

Shafqat Mahmood hoped that all public sector educational institutions would be made inclusive and accessible for special children. He also urged private sector universities to make alteration in their infrastructure to provide more and more opportunities to specially-challenged students.

The minister said that they have yet to acquire more milestones, as a uniform policy for disable citizens is under consideration and be implemented sooner.

While talking to the gathering, the parents of specially-challenged students praised the initiative of distributing electric wheelchairs to disabled students with an objective to facilitate them in their mission to complete their higher education and enable them to contribute effectively towards progress of the country.

Students said that no previous government has taken an initiative of providing electric wheelchairs to the...