PESHAWAR :Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi on Monday visited the Special Education Complex in Peshawar where he formally launched the ‘Ehsaas Umeed Programme,’ a new provincial initiative designed to extend financial and mobility support to persons with severe disabilities.
Monthly assistance and beneficiary selection outlined
According to an official briefing, the programme will provide Rs5,000 monthly assistance to 10,000 individuals with severe disabilities. Funds will be transferred directly through biometric verification to ensure transparency. The programme will cost Rs300 million between January and June 2026.
Officials said beneficiaries will be identified through the Zakat Management Information System to streamline the selection process.
New transport vehicles and assistive devices distributed
During the visit, the chief minister handed over 23 new transport vehicles for special education schools across the province. The vehicles cost Rs370 million.
Separately, the government has distributed 2,000 electric wheelchairs, 2,500 manual wheelchairs, and 800 tricycles to persons with disabilities, with procurement costing Rs760 million.
Sohail Afridi links welfare initiatives to broader political vision
Sohail Afridi said the provincial government’s welfare programmes reflect the vision of former prime minister Imran Khan, adding that supporting vulnerable groups remains a top priority.
He directed officials to immediately release Zakat funds to eligible beneficiaries and to expand the provision of assistive devices to persons with disabilities in the merged districts.
Chief Minister highlights fiscal challenges and governance concerns
The Chief Minister said KP is running welfare projects through its own limited resources despite over Rs3 trillion outstanding from the federal government. He accused federal authorities of Rs5.3 trillion in corruption, adding that accountability remains absent.
Focus on improving facilities for special education
Sohail Afridi instructed authorities to ensure that all missing facilities in schools for special children are provided without delay. He also announced that transport support will be extended to schools in the merged districts.
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