KU to provide free-ship to special persons, says KU VC Dr Khalid Iraqi

The University of Karachi is unwaveringly dedicated to provide support to special persons of any disabilities by offering complete free-ship facilities. We need to move beyond mere sympathy and truly encourage special persons, offering them equal opportunities to flourish just like any other citizen.

These views were expressed by KU Vice Chancellor Professor Dr Khalid Mahmood Iraqi on Wednesday. He was addressing the inaugural session of the two-day long seminar titled “amplifying the skill development of persons with disabilities for an inclusive and sustainable future.”

The KU Department of Special Education organized the event in observance of the International Day for Persons with Disabilities and held at the Chinese Teachers’ Memorial Auditorium. The aim of the seminar is to empower disabled individuals for a brighter future.

The KU VC Professor Dr Khalid Iraqi emphasized that accurate statistics on special persons are crucial for making informed, impactful decisions. Ensuring the implementation of the two percent quota in government jobs can transform many lives, turning them into productive members of society.

The UIT University VC Engineer Professor Dr Vali Uddin underscored the importance of family support and societal awareness. “Special persons often face neglect within their own families, which is a significant challenge. Raising awareness, especially among parents, is essential to help them become valuable citizens rather than victims of an inferiority complex.”

He highlighted the need to promote governmental policies. According to him, despite existing policies, their implementation remains a challenge. He urged that we ensure that these policies are put into action and that all organizations dedicated to disabled individuals unite for this cause. He shared that every seventh person out of 100 is somehow differently abled for various reasons.

The KU Chairperson Department of Special Education Dr Humaira Aziz spoke on the importance of modern, inclusive education. She informed the audience that the KU Department of Special Education was established in the year 1988 as the first-ever platform in Pakistan to understand and practically implement strategies for bringing differently-abled individuals towards the mainstream.

She observed that educational and vocational training institutes must strengthen their connections with the job market. It is very important to ensure that our students are not only equipped with the necessary skills but also mentally and physically prepared for the workforce. This requires building strong partnerships with different institutes, creating meaningful internship opportunities, and aligning our training programs with industry demands.

The departmental student advisor Dr Saira Saleem shed light on the department’s efforts to support special persons through various activities and free counseling services. She encouraged those in need to benefit from the department’s free diagnostic facilities.

Mahboob Alam from Meezan Bank shared inspiring insights into their inclusive initiatives and mentioned that we proudly employ differently-abled individuals in every branch and continually offer training programs, including our newly introduced ‘Roshnaas’ program. The representatives from Al Baraka, Pakistan Currency, Lucky Textile Mills, and K-Electric also participated and shared their organizations’ dedicated efforts to support differently-abled individuals.