Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Khan Gandapur has launched a financial assistance programme worth Rs370 million to support persons with disabilities in the province.
At the launch event on Wednesday, the chief minister emphasized that it is the state’s responsibility to support vulnerable segments of society, including individuals with special abilities. He highlighted that welfare initiatives for such groups were central to the vision of PTI founder Imran Khan.
“During our tenure, no vulnerable group, including persons with special abilities, will be left without government support. The provincial government will take responsibility for the destitute and helpless,” he said, according to an official statement issued by the Chief Minister’s Secretariat.
The chief minister mentioned that the provincial government was working under a comprehensive strategy to assist vulnerable groups, including collecting data on persons with special abilities, widows, orphans, and other deserving individuals across the province.
To ensure sustainability, Mr. Gandapur stated that all welfare initiatives would be integrated into the regular budget. “There will be no shortage of financial resources for these initiatives,” he assured.
He also announced the provision of electric wheelchairs to persons with special abilities. In the first phase, the wheelchairs will be distributed to special government employees and students in higher education institutions, with a second phase targeting special students in schools.
Additionally, the chief minister revealed that the amount under the dowry fund would be increased from Rs25,000 to Rs200,000, and the Zakat Fund would see a similar increase. He also introduced the Ration Card to assist elderly and widowed women and announced a program for the welfare of orphans and abandoned children.
Plans were also unveiled to build a state-of-the-art old-age home for destitute senior citizens, equipped with necessary facilities. Furthermore, shelters for the transgender community will be established to ensure they can live with dignity. Mr. Gandapur ordered the replacement of the term “disabled” with “persons with special abilities” in official documents, stressing that individuals with special abilities possess unique and exceptional potential.
The chief minister distributed financial assistance cheques to special persons during the event, which was also attended by Social Welfare Minister Syed Qasim Ali Shah, provincial assembly members, high officials from the Social Welfare department, and special persons.
In addition, the chief minister inaugurated the newly-established Police Facilitation Centre at the East Cantonment police station. This centre will offer various services such as police clearance, character certificates, foreign registration, employee verification, and more, allowing citizens to access these services online without visiting the police station.
This is the third such centre in the province, following similar establishments in Nowshera and Charsadda. Plans are in place to establish more of these centres in other districts.
Mr. Gandapur reiterated the government’s commitment to providing maximum facilities to people in all sectors, making police stations more people-friendly, and ensuring a sense of safety for citizens.
