Barrister Dr. Saif praises Paraplegic Centre’s wheelchair manufacturing unit, reaffirms government’s commitment to supporting persons with disabilities.
PESHAWAR:Barrister Dr. Muhammad Ali Saif, Advisor to the Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa for Information and Public Relations, emphasized the importance of wheelchairs in the physical rehabilitation of persons with disabilities and stressed the need for their local manufacturing at the national level. He praised the Paraplegic Centre’s wheelchair manufacturing unit, located in the Hayatabad Industrial Estate, which is the only facility in the country producing customized wheelchairs tailored to the age, condition, and physique of disabled individuals. He stated that this initiative is not only a milestone for the Paraplegic Centre but also a matter of pride for the provincial government.
Speaking as the Chief Guest at the Wheelchair Day event at Paraplegic Centre Peshawar, Barrister Dr Saif reaffirmed the provincial government’s commitment to supporting this initiative in every possible way. He stated, “A wheelchair is not a symbol of disability but of independence.” He reiterated the government’s determination to enhance its efforts in addressing the challenges faced by persons with disabilities, emphasizing that it is the government’s responsibility to prioritize their needs, especially in areas requiring humanitarian intervention.
Barrister Saif appreciated the local production of customized wheelchairs and commended Dr. Syed Muhammad Ilyas, CEO of the Paraplegic Centre, for his dedication to this cause. He recognized the Paraplegic Centre’s exemplary services in the rehabilitation of persons with disabilities and prayed for divine rewards for the institution’s contributions.
Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Syed Muhammad Ilyas highlighted the weak healthcare infrastructure in Pakistan, stating that the country has historically focused primarily on curative medicine, neglecting the other four pillars of medicine, especially rehabilitation medicine. He stressed the need to integrate rehabilitation services into the national healthcare system to improve overall healthcare standards.
Dr. Ilyas further shared that, according to global standards, at least 1% of the world’s population requires wheelchairs. In Pakistan, this translates to approximately 2.35 million individuals, with 350,000 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa alone requiring customized wheelchair manufacturing. He called for both provincial and federal government support in strengthening the Paraplegic Centre’s production unit to meet this demand.
On this occasion, Barrister Dr Saif presented shields to the personnel who demonstrated outstanding performance in wheelchair production and promotion. Upon his arrival at the Paraplegic Centre, a Saudi patient, Abdullah, who is undergoing treatment at the facility, greeted the chief guest with a bouquet as a gesture of appreciation.