First Lady Samina Alvi has termed rehabilitation and assistive technology as an essential part of comprehensive healthcare for the Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) to ensure their long term recovery and quality of life.

Addressing a ceremony in Islamabad today, she said differently-abled persons constituted around twelve percent of country's population and can contribute for the betterment of society with assistive technology and rehabilitation services.

The First Lady emphasized the need of raising awareness in the society in order to bring the differently-abled persons into the mainstream and ending their deprivation through providing equal rights and services to them.

Underscoring the importance of awareness campaign to highlight the gravity of this issue, she said media, particularly Pakistan Telecommunication Authority, is playing a significant role of creating awareness among public.

Terming disability as a global public health issue, Samina Alvi asked all stakeholders to adopt a positive approach to accommodate such people through skilled education and job opportunities.

Appreciating the rehabilitation centers working in the country, she urged to broaden the scope of these centers all over Pakistan. 

Samina Alvi said a special job quota at the federal and provincial levels has been reserved for PWDs and also urged the private sector to provide jobs to such people to make them useful members of the society.

In his remarks, WHO Head of Mission Dr Palitha Mahipala appreciated the First Lady for spearheading national awareness campaigns on breast cancer and rights of persons with disabilities.

He emphasized the need for improving people's access to rehabilitation services and embedding them into the healthcare system for the welfare of people.

On her part, WHO Technical Advisor Pauline Kleinitz said the WHO is providing necessary advice and assistance to improve the availability of rehabilitation services to fulfill the unmet needs all around the world especially in countries like Pakistan.