LAHORE: The Vice Chancellor of Punjab University, Prof Dr Muhammad Ali, has emphasized the need for collective action to integrate persons with special abilities into society as vital members. He shared these insights during a seminar titled ‘Fostering Disability Inclusive Society for Advancing Social Progress’, organized by the Punjab University Institute of Special Education in observance of the International Day of Persons with Disabilities.

The event saw participation from key figures such as Syeda Salma Saeed Hashmi, the Convener of the Parliamentary Caucus for Children with Special Abilities, Punjab Secretary for Special Education Shoaib Iqbal Syed, and Chairman of Allah Wale Trust Shahid Lone. Faculty members, students, and civil servants also attended.

Prof Dr Muhammad Ali highlighted the importance of empathizing with persons with special abilities to understand their needs better. He praised the dedication of teachers who educate these individuals, noting that their work is driven by empathy. The Vice Chancellor commended the roles played by Punjab University’s Institute of Special Education and Child Welfare Centre in advancing the education and training of children with special abilities.

Syeda Salma Saeed Hashmi spoke about the government’s efforts to address the challenges faced by persons with special abilities, emphasizing the formation of a parliamentary caucus to tackle these issues. She acknowledged the contributions of teachers and institutions in making these individuals proud members of society.

Shoaib Iqbal Syed underscored the importance of dialogue and collaboration between institutions and the government to improve the lives of persons with special abilities. He cited the government’s increased budget allocation for their welfare and stressed the need for research aligned with societal needs.

Shahid Lone of Allah Wale Trust mentioned their efforts in providing daily food charity to children in government schools and offering scholarships for the education of special children. He emphasized the importance of focused research to gather accurate data.

Dr Humaira Bano expressed gratitude to the participants and highlighted the ongoing educational initiatives at the Institute of Special Education. She noted that graduates from the institute are contributing as educators in various universities.