KARACHI: President Arif Alvi on Tuesday said that the skills of differently abled persons (DAPs) should be developed to bring them to the mainstream as they could play a vital role in the development of the country.

He was speaking at a ceremony held to lay foundation stone of the upgraded complex of Al-Shifa Trust, Special School & Rehabilitation Centre here.

He emphasised that there was need for mainstream schools and skills development programmes for such people.

Appreciating some organisations like KFC and others for hiring DAPs, the president asserted that jobs should be created for them as they needed employment and not charity.

He said DAPs were usually found to be isolated as families could not take them to markets or other areas due to issue like non availability of wheelchairs and other facilities within the premise of buildings or markets.

To give an access to those peoples, availability of wheelchairs was being ensured in every building in Karachi and Islamabad, he added.