Director Programs and Operations of the Punjab Welfare Trust for Disabled Dr. Izhar-ul-Haq Hashmi Tuesday said that Punjab government had increased employment quota for persons with disabilities to three percent while the industrial sector had also shown willingness to offer more job opportunities, provided the candidates possess the skills to perform at least half of the assigned responsibilities.
Punjab raises disability job quota to 3%: Dr Izhar-ul-Haq Hashmi
FAISALABAD, Jun 30 (APP):Director Programs and Operations of the Punjab Welfare Trust for Disabled Dr. Izhar-ul-Haq Hashmi Tuesday said that Punjab government had increased employment quota for persons with disabilities to three percent while the industrial sector had also shown willingness to offer more job opportunities, provided the candidates possess the skills to perform at least half of the assigned responsibilities.
Addressing a ceremony at Faisalabad Chamber of Commerce & Industry (FCCI), he said that integrating persons with disabilities into the workforce was essential for sustainable economic growth, adding that excluding them from productive economic activity was causing the national economy to lose more than four percent of its Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
He said that financial institutions had traditionally been reluctant to extend credit to persons with disabilities, but the Punjab government had successfully disbursed 50,000 loans worth Rs1.3 billion to such individuals, achieving a remarkable 100 percent recovery rate.
Highlighting the industrial potential of Faisalabad, Dr. Hashmi urged local manufacturers and entrepreneurs to focus on developing assistive technologies for persons with disabilities so that affordable wheelchairs and other mobility and rehabilitation equipment could be produced locally and made accessible to those in need.
He also announced that Punjab Welfare Trust for Disabled in collaboration with Anjuman Zunnurain would launch a Home Tutor Program next year to support bedridden children with disabilities. Under this initiative, the tutors would visit around 2,000 bedridden children every week to provide educational and rehabilitation assistance, he said and added that nearly 10,000 children had already been enrolled under the scheme.
Responding to a question, Dr. Hashmi expressed concern over exploitation of families in the name of autism awareness and treatment.
He said that Punjab Welfare Trust was prepared to organize awareness seminars to provide authentic information and guidance on autism-related issues.
He also praised the philanthropic traditions of Faisalabad, noting that several prominent welfare initiatives, including Akhuwat and Fountain House, had been established with the contributions of people from the city.
Earlier, FCCI President Farooq Yousaf Sheikh appreciated Dr. Hashmi’s services for the welfare of persons with disabilities and said the Punjab government’s development initiatives were aimed at improving the lives of the province’s 250 million citizens.
He acknowledged that various government institutions were already serving persons with disabilities effectively but stressed that there was still room for further improvement.
He said that Faisalabad Chamber had always actively participated in social welfare activities and expressed the chamber’s readiness to collaborate closely with the Punjab Welfare Trust for Disabled in future initiatives for the empowerment and rehabilitation of persons with disabilities.
Senior Vice President FCCI Naveed Akram Sheikh thanked the guest for his participation while FCCI President Farooq Yousaf Sheikh presented Dr. Izhar-ul-Haq Hashmi with a special collar pin commemorating FCCI’s golden jubilee celebrations and a commemorative shield in recognition of his services.
FCCI Vice President Engineer Asim Munir was also present on the occasion.
