Punjab Government Promotes Inclusion: 1,100 Wheelchairs Distributed for Public Transport

Lahore (28 October, Nazrana Times):

On the special directives of Chief Minister Punjab Maryam Nawaz Sharif, the Social Welfare Department has handed over 1,100 wheelchairs to the Transport Department to improve accessibility for persons with disabilities using public transport across Punjab.
A special ceremony was held in Lahore where Provincial Minister for Social Welfare & Bait-ul-Maal Sohail Shaukat Butt and Provincial Minister for Transport Bilal Akbar Khan participated as chief guests.
As part of the initiative, electric wheelchairs, tri-cycles, and motorized tri-cycles were distributed among citizens with disabilities from Lahore, Gujranwala, Faisalabad, and Sahiwal Divisions.
Speaking on the occasion, Minister Sohail Shaukat Butt said the uplift of vulnerable and marginalized segments of society is a top priority of the Punjab Government.

“We are working to empower children with disabilities and ensure their independence in education and everyday life,” he stated, adding that the Social Welfare Department continues to expand its services under the visionary leadership of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif.

Transport Minister Bilal Akbar Khan appreciated the Chief Minister’s people-centric approach, stating that special buses have been equipped with inclusive facilities and reduced fares to ensure accessibility.

He emphasized the importance of inter-departmental cooperation for the welfare of persons with disabilities. Referring to the viral Sargodha incident involving a woman struggling to board a bus, he lauded the Chief Minister’s swift response and provision of a wheelchair as a symbol of responsive governance.

The event concluded with a renewed commitment to strengthen mobility, accessibility, and inclusion across Punjab.