National

Begum Samina Alvi calls for enhancing socio-economic inclusion of persons with disabilities by equipping them with marketable skills

ISLAMABAD, Feb 27 (SABAH): First Lady Begum Samina Arif Alvi has called for enhancing the socio-economic inclusion of persons with disabilities (PWDs) by equipping them with marketable skills and providing them job opportunities as per their skills and abilities in the government and private sectors.

Begum Samina Alvi expressed these views while addressing a certificate and diploma distribution ceremony to students with different abilities (SDAs), at the National Training Center for Special Persons (NTCSP), in Islamabad, on Monday. Director General Special Education, Azhar Sajjad, representatives of the Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Christopher Blind Mission, differently-abled people, parents and teachers of the NTCSP participated in the event.

Addressing the ceremony, the First Lady urged private sector to come forward and employ PWDs in greater numbers as these people were skilled, hard-working and the feedback from their employers had been satisfactory.

She termed the fulfillment of job quota for PWDs in the public and private sectors as essential for the enhanced economic integration of PWDs.

First Lady Begum Samina Alvi appreciated NTCSP and Islamabad Chamber of Commerce for collaborating to provide jobs to 104 PWDs in different sectors of economy. She lauded Christopher Blind Mission for providing sewing and mobile repairing kits to 25 PWDs and enabling them to become self-employed.

She called upon other organizations, especially the chambers of commerce and industry of the country and welfare organizations, to expand their efforts for the welfare and financial empowerment of PWDs.

Begum Samina Alvi underscored the need to enhance coordination among federal and provincial level departments to learn from each other’s best practices, expertise, benefit from training facilities and to make coordinated efforts for socio-economic inclusion and empowerment of PWDs.

She added teachers of government and private schools should be trained in greater numbers to make schools inclusive and friendly for PWDs. She said online trainings to school teachers could be provided to improve their capacity to impart education & skills to students with disabilities.

The First Lady called for ensuring the availability of safe and usable ramps for PWDs in banks, parks, markets, and other public places to improve the mobility and access of differently-abled people. She also emphasized the need to treat PWDs with respect and called for greater awareness about their rights and the problems being faced by them.

Earlier, the First Lady was briefed by the DG Special Education, Azhar Sajjad, about the National Training Center for Special Persons (NTCSP) and the facilities being provided to students with disabilities.

It was informed that students with disabilities were trained in different trades, including computer skills, graphic design, mobile repairing, tailoring and other professions. He further stated that 1715 students with different abilities (SDAs) were currently enrolled in different government and private schools in Islamabad, adding that NTCSP had so far trained 850 teachers to equip them with skills to provide education to SDAs.

The First Lady visited different labs and training facilities and interacted with the SDAs. She also appreciated NTCSP for providing market-oriented skills to SDAs, besides ensuring job placements for PWDs with the help of the private sector. She also distributed certificates and diplomas among students who had completed their skills trainings in different fields.