Punjab Governor Latif Khosa, accompanied by his wife, opened an art exhibition for special children on Friday at the Al-Hamra Art Gallery.
The exhibition was titled, Stardom of Heavens, and held in special reference to the International Day of Disabilities on December 3. The organisers were the Family Support Programme Association for Special Children whose President Shafique Farooqui opened the programme with his speech. Preceding his speech, a poem sent by Amjad Islam Amjad was read out for the children while Amjad was invited but was not able to make an appearance.
Farooqui said that the organisation was trying its best to give special children the best of education.
He said that although their financial status was not in the best of conditions and the responsibility to cover this sphere was essentially the government’s responsibility, the NGO was still working hard to carry on its mission.
He said that every year at least 500 poor children and special children were give free education based on information technology.
“If we are given more aid by the government, we could increase this number to about 5,000,” said Farooqui. He told journalists that aid had previously been provided by the Baitul Maal, Social Welfare Department and even the Austrian government. He said that this education was important because children must learn how to stand on their own feet.
“This is vocational training so tomorrow they can earn on their own, with their own skills,” he said. Farooqui also stressed that two elements make up an art piece, technique and thought. He said that although these children did not possess the academic technique to draw, they did possess thought and it was important to see their works from that perception.
Khosa congratulated the organisation over the event and said that more events like these must be held. He said that these children were truly special and should be loved and cared for by everyone in society. “I would say that their parents and guardians are brave, strong and commendable people who should be rewarded for caring for their children they way they do,” said the governor. He said that these children could give so much to society and should be taught how to work and contribute to social reform. “I am dismayed to see the level of corruption and inconsideration in most officials and bureaucrats,” said Khosa.
He said that instead of the existing people if these children could be tested they would definitely have more to give to society. “We should in fact learn from them,” he said. Khosa and his wife also distributed shields to various other schools and organisations working for special children for their social work.
