BAJAUR: The differently-abled persons on Tuesday demande d a rehabilitation centre in Bajaur district.

They made the demand during a khuli kutchery the district administration organised for them here to know their issues and resolve them.

They also sought wheelchairs and provision of free of cost artificial limbs.

Deputy commissioner Shahid Ali Khan and local heads of different departments were also in attendance.The participants, including members of Anjuman Bahali Mazooran, an association working for rehabilitation of persons with disabilities, told the meeting that there were more than 12,000 people registered with the organisation. They said such people were deprived of any government support.

They said besides the rehabilitation centre, there was also a need for setting up a vocational training centre for the people with disabilities.

They also demanded the doubling of the quota for the disabled people in government jobs.The participants of the forum, the first of its 1(ind for the people with disabilities in the district, asked the deputy commissioner to allocate special quota for the differently-abled students in government colleges.

They called for setting up ramps in public buildings like banks and hospitalsacross the district.

The deputy commissioner said that the meeting was aimed at listening to and addressing the demands of the persons with disabilities. He directed the heads of relevant departments to resolve the issues highlighted by the differently-abled people.