‘PU first to provide free education to special students’

Prof Farzana Sohail of the Government Training College for Teachers of the Deaf said at a special meeting convened to celebrate “International Disabled Persons Day” on Sunday that Punjab University (PU), which is the oldest seat of learning in the subcontinent, has become the first educational institution in the world to be providing completely free education up to PhD level to all special students, besides allotting scholarships for poor students.
She said that it was the first time in the 131 years history of the PU that PU Vice Chancellor (VC) Prof Dr Mujahid Kamran had offered free education within its own meagre financial resources to all special students and Baloch students up to PhD level. She further said that it was a good omen for special children across the country that the PU VC had directed all heads of faculties and deans of various disciplines to facilitate the students with special needs.
Farzana said that all special students studying in different faculties of the PU had also been totally exempted from all sorts of fees including admission, departmental and examination fees, as well as the monthly hostel charges.
She also said that PU had always attached great importance to special children.
Furthermore, she said all eligible and deserving special students would also be awarded scholarships without any hindrance.
Moreover, she said that the PU VC had also directed the higher authorities of other universities that all genuine problems being faced by the special students should be addressed according to top priority.
She said that special children the world over possessed all abilities and capabilities that normal people had and they always demonstrated their highest level of competence in different fields.
Speaking on the occasion, APP Regional Director Dr Waqar Chaudhary who is also patron-in-chief of special students at PU said that all out efforts were being made on war footings by Dr Mujahid to provide the best package of facilities to all special students.
He called upon the special students and Baloch students to concentrate on pursuing higher studies and take full advantage of the excellent academic facilities at PU.
Blind students Malik Muhammad Nadeem Aslam Arain, Shamas Ul Zia, Shahzad Gulnar, Sarfraz Ahmad Khan, Muhammad Shakil, Muhammad Saleem, Usman Ali Atari, Badar uz Zaman, Sonia Amjad, Sumaira, Sarfraz Ahmad and other special students present on the occasion thanked the VC for his efforts to resolve their problems.