PESHAWAR
A special ceremony was held at the Paraplegic Centre Peshawar (PCP) on Thursday to celebrate Pakistan’s Independence Day, featuring the inauguration of a new 20-bed ward and and a cake-cutting ceremony.
Provincial Health Minister Mian Khaliq ur Rehman was the chief guest at the event. He inaugurated the centre’s third ward, comprising 20 additional beds through a female patient. He also cut an Independence Day cake arranged by Friends of Paraplegics, an organization working for the welfare of people with disabilities.
In a briefing, Dr Amir Zaib highlighted the growing needs of the Paraplegic Centre and stressed the need to increase its financial resources.
Chairman Board of Governors and former Chief Secretary Dr Shahzad Bangash, Director Rehabilitation Dr Amir Zaib, Executive Board Member Hafizur Rehman other board members, office-bearers of Friends of Paraplegics, centre officials and staff, patients and their attendants attended the ceremony in large numbers.
He also proposed restarting the follow-up programme and vocational training scheme for rehabilitated patients so that people with disabilities could become self-reliant and productive members of society after rehabilitation.
Speaking on the occasion, Mian Khaliq ur Rehman said the opening of the new 20-bed ward would provide patients with additional facilities and improved rehabilitation services. He assured the centre of all possible support from the provincial government to meet its needs.
The health minister appreciated the comprehensive physical, psychological, social and vocational rehabilitation services being provided by the centre, describing it as a unique and valuable institution for rehabilitation services in the country.
He said helping people with disabilities return to an independent and dignified life was a shared responsibility of the government and society.
Mian Khaliq ur Rehman further said that the true spirit of Pakistan’s independence would be reflected only when every member of society, particularly people with disabilities, enjoyed dignity, independence and equal opportunities.
He said the addition of 20 new beds at the Paraplegic Centre Peshawar was a practical expression of this commitment and an important step towards a better future for patients.
