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MULTAN, Nov 20 (APP): Acting President Yusuf Raza Gilani on Thursday said that persons with disabilities are the “bright face of society” and they are playing a vital role in the country’s development.
He expressed these views while addressing a wheelchair distribution ceremony, organised by the Society for Special Persons (SSP) in Multan. Gilani attended the ceremony as the chief guest and met several special persons benefiting from the programme. In his address, he said that Multan is a 5,000-year-old city known for its traditions of tolerance, peace, and service to humanity. He recalled studying at a missionary school where all his teachers belonged to the Christian community, which, he added, reflects the city’s long-standing interfaith harmony.
The Acting President highlighted how women in Pakistan were once denied even basic identification, but initiatives like the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) empowered millions of women by giving them identity, financial security, and economic independence. He thanked the United Nations and international partners for always supporting Pakistan in times of natural disasters, including earthquakes and floods.
Gilani said that the true spirit of humanity is to work for those who cannot return the favour. Reiterating his long-standing stance on the creation of a separate South Punjab province, he said he was the first political leader to have resolutions for the new province passed by the Punjab Assembly, National Assembly, and Senate. He stressed that South Punjab should not be a “province in name only” and must have its own assembly, chief minister, governor, budget, and full share in the NFC Award.
He noted that his government had allocated 34 per cent of the development budget to South Punjab, under which universities, colleges, bridges, bypasses, and multiple major development projects were completed. He said that 99 per cent of the people who come to him seek employment, and the only sustainable solution to this issue is the establishment of a separate province.
The Acting President praised SSP’s customized wheelchair programme, describing it as a ‘life-changing initiative’ for persons with disabilities. The organisation has so far distributed 8,000 customized wheelchairs, while over 1,000 individuals have become self-reliant after receiving training in computers, tailoring, and various vocational skills. Around 300 people have been trained in wheelchair manufacturing and repair.
He added that the SSP provided wheelchairs, food, and essential supplies to disabled persons in flood-affected areas, while women with disabilities in South Punjab are being equipped with skills and business training to enhance their economic independence. Gilani also thanked national and international institutions for supporting the programme, which he said is transforming lives across the region.
The ceremony concluded with the Acting President distributing wheelchairs among special persons.