‘Two rehabilitation centres to be established in quake-hit areas’
By Hina Kiyani

ISLAMABAD—Federal Minister for Social Welfare andSpecial Education Zobaida Jalal on Thursday announced setting up of two rehabilitation centres for orphans and destitute women in the quake-affectedareas of NWFP and AJK.
She was addressing a seminar on 'Accessible environment: towards a barrier-free society for all in the post-earthquake areas in Pakistan', organized by Asia-Pacific Development Centre on Disability (APCD) incollaboration with the Ministry of Social Welfare and Special Education and Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). The minister said the NWFP and AJK government will provide the land for the centres while the ministry will set up centre one each at NWFP and AJK aimed at providing a home-like atmosphere to the affected orphans and women.
She said in NWFP, the centre will be established in Mansehra while the area for AJK will be decided in consultation with the AJK government.
Zobaida Jalal said the ministry has already set up a Rehabilitation Center "Aashiana" at Hattian in District Attock for the rehabilitation of orphans, destitute women and persons rendered helpless and homeless by the earthquake.
She said about 403 deserving children and women have been accommodated at this centre. Besides food, clothing and shelter, there is a school, vocational training center, a hospital and playground for children at the centre, she added. She said the government is committed to provide an equal opportunity to all special people for a better life. She added the government intends to promote inclusive education for children with mild to moderate disabilities. The minister said a National Plan of Action has been formulated and is in its final stages for being launched, in pursuance of the first ever National Policy for Persons with Disabilities, announced in 2002.
She added the policy stipulates provisions that would help persons with disabilities to integrate in society and get equal access to education, employment and services.
She said the government is also planning legislation to make all public buildings and places disabled-friendly and barrier-free and for this purpose Islamabad, Lahore and Peshawar have been declared disabled-friendly cities.
Zobaida said the government supports public-private partnership for effectively attaining the objectives of a barrier-free society particularly for those affected from October 8 earthquake. She said the seminar is highly significant as it addresses an issue of topical importance like the issue of disability a rising in the wake of the massive earthquake which struck the country.
She urged seminar participants to suggest concrete measures for adoption of an accessible environment for all special people particularly for the persons rendered disabled by the earthquake in NWFP and AJK. Provincial Minister for Social Welfare and Special Education, NWFP, Hafiz Hashmat Khan said every support will be provided in efforts to help the special people of the country.