55,000 Lady Health Workers, of the fixed target of 100,000, have already been trained and placed. Mr. Chairman, Beginning in 1947 with two schools for the blind, Pakistan today has an elaborate network of facilities for the disabled. At present there are 49 Special Education Centers at the Federal level. These are complemented by 92 centers established and operated by the Provincial Governments and 135 by NGOs. A National Institute of Special Education provides trained manpower for these centers.
Special education is imparted at our universities.
There are specialized institutes for early detection, prevention and rehabilitation of disabled children. The law in Pakistan provides special quotas for disabled persons in all organizations employing more than 100 persons. A National Trust for the Disabled has been established with the Prime Minister of Pakistan as the President of the Trust. Primary education was made compulsory in the province of Punjab in 1995. However the goal of universal enrollment in the province has not yet been attained.