MANSEHRA, Nov 28: Federal Minister for Haj and Religious Affairs Sardar Mohammad Yousuf inaugurated the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa`s first institute of rehabilitation sciences and rehabilitation centre here on Thursday.

`The institute would not only impart education in the field of rehabilitation health sciences, but its rehabilitation centre would serve the people with disabilities,` said Mr Yousuf while speaking at the inaugural ceremony of the institute and centre established by American charity Helping Hand for Relief and Development (HHRD).

HHRD chairman Dr Tulhat Sultan, country director Fazlur Rehman and head of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Ilyas Syedwere also present on the occasion.

The minister said that the federal government had been spending more on health and education than the previous government, but still there was room for improvement.

He said that this project would produce professionals in the field of rehabilitation health sciences. He lauded the Helping Hand for its services to people with disabilities and launching of such an important institute here in Mansehra.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr Sultan said that the HHRD established the institute with the support of Islamic circle of Americans, which would be upgraded to university at a later stage. He said that this would be the first university of itskind in the country.

He said that the rehabilitation centre, which was working since early 2006 following 2005 earthquake, had so far provided artificial limbs and occupational therapy services to over 135,000 people with disabilities in Hazara.

He said that over 45,000 Muslim donors were extending assistance to his charity. Ilyas Syed said that this institute would provide trained human resource to the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and country in the field of rehabilitation health.

He said that Khyber Pakhtunkhwa needed over 13,000 physical therapists for its population, but presently there were hardly 70 professionals in the province.