Azerbaijan Gifts 100 Customized Wheel Chairs to Disable Children of Pakistan

Islamabad; 29 Dec 2020 – President Dr Arif Alvi on Tuesday said disabled persons in the society deserved access to education and employment as their “equitable right, and not as charity”.

“The State is responsible to transform the society in a way that it accepts and mainstreams the differently-abled persons in all segments of life,”

The President said in his address at a wheelchair distribution ceremony, held here at the Aiwan-e-Sadr. The embassy of Azerbaijan in Islamabad gifted 100 customized wheelchairs to the disabled people in Pakistan, at an event attended by First Lady Samina Alvi, Azerbaijan’s ambassador Ali Alizada and a number of disabled persons including children.

President Alvi emphasized on adopting inclusive approach towards persons with disabilities by providing them education at regular schools instead of secluding them at special institutes.

The President extended sincere gratitude to Azerbaijan for gifting wheelchairs to the disabled people of Pakistan, saying the precious gesture of compassion was a belief in respecting the rights of such people.

He lauded Ambassador Ali Alizada for his commendable job of contributing to the socio-welfare development of Pakistan through launching projects in fields of education, culture, environment and health, including providing assistance to Thalassemia Centre in Islamabad.

He mentioned that Pakistan and Azerbaijan enjoyed friendship based on common religion and culture of “caring for weaker segments of society”.

He also congratulated Azerbaijan on liberation of its territories captured by Armenia in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

Azerbaijan’s ambassador Ali Alizada said the memorable event of gifting of wheelchairs was manifestation of the support the two countries gave to the rights of persons with disabilities.

He said the proposal by President Dr Arif Alvi to Azerbaijan for customized wheelchairs depicted his personal commitment to the welfare of disabled people.

President Alvi and Begum Samina Alvi also took round of the exhibition of handicrafts and paintings made by children with disabilities aging 12 to 15 years and appreciated their talent.

With majority of the audience on wheelchairs, the President and the First Lady approached each individually and greeted them with their words of encouragement and appreciation.