With an aim to explore the hidden talent in special people and to discourage discrimination towards them, Pakistan National Council of the Arts (PNCA) in collaboration with Director General of Special Education, Social Welfare, Child Welfare and Development arranged a colourful program titled ‘Talent Hunt: Discovering Special Children’ at PNCA Auditorium on Monday.
PNCA acting Director General Hassan Abbas Raza and Special Education Director General Syed Mustfain Kazmi attended, the latter as chief guest.
The event started with a vibrant ‘Puppet Show’ which propagated helping the needy displaced from the floods in Sindh province and highlighted their plight as well as that of dengue fever patients in Punjab. It also helped create awareness about the dengue virus and how to be protected from it. The characters also sensitised children about the fundamental issues of health, education, environment and care of special persons and their participation in daily life.
Humza Saleem, a disabled student, rendered Qiraat, followed by Naat by Rabia Ameen of Punjgaran Centre.
Ministry of Welfare Deputy Director Rana Saeed Ramzan, also a special person, along with Waleeha Shaukat conducted the proceeding. Later, the Children presented national songs, folk music, tableaus and skits showing their talent in different fields. Maria, a blind 4th grade student presented a song ‘Chail Chabila’ while students of HIC, presented duaa “lab pay ati hay dua ban kay tamanna meri”.
Fazal Ghani from Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment of Disabled Persons (VREDP) amused the audience with his parody of Indian film star actors Sunil Sheti, Sanjay Dutt, Amitabh Bachan and Shahrukh Khan. The special children also performed on the song ‘Kurian Lahore Dian’, ‘Mor Tor Tillay Raano’, ‘Assan Teri Gal Karni- Gal Karni Ay Daddy Naal’, ‘Dil Ki Lagi’, and ‘Battian Bujhay Rakhdi’.
Subhan Rasheed presented folk tunes of the provinces. On the occasion, it was announced that Maria, who presented songs ‘Mauj Barhay Ya Andhi Ay’, ‘Ay Jazba-e-Dil Gar May Chahoon’, and ‘Mor Tor Tillay Rano’ voice would be given a job in Pakistan Television (PTV) when she grew up. “The Prime Minister has ordered that this young girl be inducted in PTV as she is an asset for this nation because she has a beautiful voice,” the audience was notified
Earlier Raza said the PNCA was working for the promotion of art and artists and special persons have been given great attention. “Recently a programme was arranged with special singers in which singers from different cities participated. These young people are not less than other normal human beings, we must recognise their participation and contribution in every field as they do their best,” Raza said, adding that his own son was disabled so he could judge the situation well.
The chief guest said, “These people are an asset of this nation and we should not bind them at home but rather let them go outside and contribute to the prosperity of this nation as the majority of them are doing. I request parents having such special children to bring them to our institutions and make them useful citizens,” Kazmi said. He also requested parents to not treat them as special persons and build their capacities, polish their hidden talent and get them physical therapy to bring them into normal life. At the end, Kazmi distributed prizes among the children.
