LAHORE, July 18: Two memorandums of understanding for the rehabilitation of the special people were initialled here on Wednesday between the Punjab government and international non-governmental organisations -Helping Hand and Sight Savers.

Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif was the chief guest at the signing ceremony, says a handout.

The event held at the Tent Office on Wednesday, was also attended by Senior Adviser Senator Sirdar Zulfiqar Ali Khan Khosa, Punjab Education Minister Mujtaba Shujaur Rehman, Adviser Begum Zakiya Shahnawaz, MNA Mian Marghoob Ahmed, secretaries of higher education, social welfare and special education departments, and representatives of the two NGOs.

The MoUs were signed by Secretary (Special Education) Abdullah Sumbalon behalf of the Punjab government and Helping Hand Country Director Fazalur Rehman and representative of Sight Savers, Imam Yar Baig. According to the memorandum, the Punjab government and the NGOs would work jointly for the welfare and rehabilitation of the special people. The Helping Hand would provide assistance and cooperation for establishment of a model rehabilitation centre in the city, provision of necessary equipment, offering free-of-cost medical counselling to the special persons and imparting training to the professionals.

The Sight Savers would extend assistance with regard to provision of inclusive education, establishment of three resource centres at Lahore, Faisalabad and Rawalpindi, besides provision of technology and surgery of the sightless children.

Speaking on the occasion, the chiefminister said the collaboration between the Punjab government and NGOs was a good omen which would help rehabilitate special children. `The special persons can never be ignored as they possessed inherent capabilities.

Helping Hand Country Director Fazalur Rehman apprised the chief minister of the activities of his organisation and said it was operating in 21 countries whereas it also started rehabilitation work in Pakistan in 2005.

He said the NGO had set up centres at Chakwal, Swat and Mansehra.

The representative of Sight Savers International, Imam Yar Baig, said his organisation was vigorously working in all provinces of Pakistan for the rehabilitation of sightless persons in collaboration with medical universities besides imparting training to lady health workers.