RAWALPINDI - To mark the International White Cane Safety Day, a ceremony was organised by Pakistan Aman Party (PAP) here on Thursday. Addressing the participants, PAP Chairman Haji Mohmmad Gulzar Awan said that visually-impaired persons had rights over those who were blessed with sight. They deserve our special attention and respect while we should not let them feel less-respected and give them priority in for instance making queues and seeking relief, he added. He said that a white cane in the hands of a visually-impaired person indicated that the person was the special one with whom society should behave politely and generously. Merely observing the White Cane Safety Day by conducting seminars or functions is not enough if we want to do something for handicapped people, he said adding society must take care of them in practical way by resolving the problems and needs of the visually handicapped persons. PAP Chairman called upon the government to establish special counters in every public dealing government department to bring relief to the visually-handicapped people in resolving their problems. He also demanded of the government to multiply special formal and technical educational institutions to groom the talent and calibre of these special persons so that they could be made useful, dynamic and responsible citizens. Our government should make a policy to adjust adequate number of visually destitute persons in government jobs. he demanded. The ceremony was also addressed by Begum Musharraf Jehan, Begum Shaheen Basheer, Mudassar Munir Paracha Advocate, Syed Atif Raza Shahid Waheed, Raja Shabir, Malik Zahid Awan and Sobia Batool. They said that the handicapped persons were also the society members and they, too, had equal rights. We all should respect their rights and help them at any time when they are in the need, they added. APP adds: - The visually impaired children of Al-Makhtoom Special Education Center for Visually handicapped Children presented a number of colorful items to mark 'International White Cane Safety day here Thursday. With an aim of celebrating the day with due importance, the children dressed up in colorful costumes performed skits with topics like 'Message on White Cane, 'Affiliation with White Cane, 'Pak Watan Ka Gosha Gosha, 'Khzr-e-Rah, presentation on the use of white cane and a tableau on 'Allah Hai Bus Pyar Hi Pyar. While the flute performance by a student and Ghazal solo performance enthralled the audience who lauded the hidden abilities and efforts of these visually impaired children for spending their life as normal persons. The children also delivered speeches while prizes were distributed among those giving excellent performance on the occasion. Secretary Ministry of Social Welfare and Special Education, Imtiaz Qazi on the occasion said that laws regarding the protection of rights for these disabled would be implemented as the ministry was making utmost efforts in this regard. The project of establishing the special education centers for the visually impaired persons at district level would be launched soon as the government has given approval for setting up of these centers across the country. Rubina Anjum, Principal of the institute while talking to media persons said that around 200 blind students were getting trained in the institution with proper formal education upto matric. Besides having formal education, the institution also arranges skill development training programmes for the students enabling them to live a better life in future, she said. The institution also provides hostel facility and outdoor sports activities for the students while the children are also involved in drawing and painting classes. Established in 1982, Al-Makhtoom Special Education Center has completely trained 300 students so far while a few have also given jobs in the institution for their bright performance. Rubina further said the objective of celebrating this day was to renew the commitment for encouraging the abilities of special persons to bring empowerment, independence and social inclusion of these persons nation wide. She lauded the efforts of international NGOs for giving more funds to the institution then the local organizations.