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Lahore, Punjab’s Chief Minister, Maryam Nawaz Sharif, has launched a significant initiative aimed at improving special education and providing necessary aids to children with disabilities across the province. During a heartfelt ceremony in Lahore, the Chief Minister announced the establishment of 300 Special Education Schools as Centers of Excellence and kicked off an enrollment campaign for out-of-school special needs children.
According to Directorate General Public Relation – Govt of Punjab, Chief Minister Sharif demonstrated her commitment to this cause by engaging directly with special needs children at the event. She distributed hearing aids and interacted with the children, participating in various activities including medical tests and viewing their handicrafts and artwork. The event, which included a collaboration with UNICEF and the Global Partnership for Education (GPE), also featured performances by the children, including recitations and songs.
During her address, which she delivered while seated among the children instead of standing at a traditional podium, Chief Minister Sharif outlined her administration’s goals for special education. She emphasized the establishment of the Centers of Excellence, which will provide international-quality facilities in every district of Punjab. Additionally, she highlighted the government’s plans to launch a wheelchair provision project and other supports to integrate special needs children into mainstream education settings.
The Chief Minister also announced the creation of a new institution specifically for children with autism and confirmed the allocation of necessary funds to support this initiative. Her speech was not only a declaration of policy but also a personal pledge to enhance the lives of special needs children in Punjab, underscoring her deep emotional engagement with the cause.
The ceremony was not just a platform for announcing new initiatives but also a demonstration of the provincial government’s dedication to inclusivity and support for vulnerable populations in education.