Sindh CM distributes Rs800m to NGOs for assistive devices for differently abled persons

KARACHI: Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah on Thursday distributed Rs800 million among 105 partner organisations and non-governmental organisations for the provision of assistive devices to persons with disabilities, describing the move as an important step towards inclusion, dignity and equal opportunity.

Speaking at a ceremony organised by the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPD) at the Chief Minister House, the chief minister said the initiative reflected the provincial government’s commitment to an inclusive and compassionate society.

He said, “A society where every individual can live with dignity, independence, and confidence. The true measure of a society lies in how it treats its most vulnerable citizens.”

Murad Ali Shah said the government, working with partner organisations, was facilitating the provision of wheelchairs, hearing aids, prosthetics and other assistive devices that could substantially improve the lives of persons with disabilities.

He said the government was also pursuing a wider inclusion agenda, including expansion of DEPD services to the taluka level, stronger implementation of the five per cent job quota in the public sector and encouragement for similar adoption in the private sector.

The chief minister also announced plans for a comprehensive disability census for more accurate data to support planning and service delivery. He also shared details of government measures related to inclusive education, teacher capacity-building in collaboration with international partners, and improved coordination for autism rehabilitation centres at the federal and provincial levels.

Department briefing

Earlier, DEPD Secretary Tauha Farooqi gave a presentation on the department’s performance, ongoing work and future plans. He said the department was operating through a network of 67 government special education and rehabilitation centres, 90 partner NGOs, Braille press facilities and audio-visual libraries aimed at promoting inclusion and accessibility.

Farooqi said enrolment in special education institutions had risen from 4,794 in 2023 to 6,046 in 2025, an increase of more than 26 per cent, although 2,033 students were still on waiting lists. He said Karachi posted the highest increase, while Hyderabad, Sukkur and Larkana also recorded notable progress.

He said that after DEPD took over the Agosh centre at Pakistan Steel Mills, new admissions had been made, though a considerable number of students were still awaiting placement. He added that services were being provided to individuals with autism, Down syndrome, ADHD, dyslexia, visual and hearing impairments, cerebral palsy, and other neurological and physical disabilities.

According to the secretary, 20 digital classrooms were currently functional and 28 more were planned as part of efforts to modernise learning. He said the department was providing free education, stipends, uniforms, assistive devices, transport, meals, textbooks, Braille material and access to audio-visual libraries.

He added that skill development and vocational training programmes were also being implemented to create employment opportunities and support economic independence for persons with disabilities.

Autism centres and inclusive city project

Farooqi said that under the Centre for Autism, Rehabilitation and Training Sindh, more than 5,359 children had been registered, with 1,069 currently enrolled and 512 awaiting admission. He said new centres were nearing completion in several cities of Sindh.

He added that the government had approved a Rs1 billion endowment fund to support the long-term sustainability of these centres. He also said the Sindh Institute of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation was expanding its services, with new facilities already operational in Hyderabad and additional centres under construction in several cities.

The secretary also highlighted the chief minister’s Inclusive City project, under which 75 acres of land had been allocated for the development of a fully accessible and integrated urban environment designed for the needs of persons with disabilities.

According to officials, the Sindh government had earmarked Rs800 million for assistive devices in the 2025-26 fiscal year, with a substantial portion already released for distribution through partner NGOs. Officials said that through these partnerships, 15 new centres had been established, services had expanded across the province, and around 120,000 people had benefited directly and indirectly.

The event also included the signing of an agreement between the Benazir Bhutto Shaheed Human Resource Research and Development Board and the DEPD to enhance cooperation on disability empowerment initiatives.