Punjab Launches Rs 1 Billion Assistive Devices Program for Persons with Disabilities

Lahore, April 19, 2025 — Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif launched a groundbreaking Rs 1 billion initiative on Friday to provide free assistive devices to persons with disabilities, marking a historic first for the province. The program aims to empower thousands by enhancing mobility and fostering inclusion across Punjab.

At the launch ceremony in Lahore, attended by over 300 individuals with disabilities, the chief minister announced that the project would distribute a range of customized equipment, including artificial limbs, hearing aids, manual and motorized wheelchairs, tricycles, rollators, walking frames, and mobile toilet chairs. “This is about restoring dignity and enabling full participation in society,” CM said, emphasizing that each device would be tailored to the recipient’s specific needs.

A highlight of the initiative is Punjab’s pioneering use of bionic technology, making it the first province in Pakistan to offer artificial limbs that respond to brain signals, mimicking natural movement. During the event, a six-year-old boy, Sohail, who lost his arm due to an electric shock, was presented with a bionic limb. In a touching moment, Sohail moved his new hand for the first time, clapping and sharing a high-five with the chief minister, drawing applause from the crowd.CM urged individuals to register on the Social Welfare Department’s portal (adwc.punjab.gov.pk) for home delivery of assistive devices, ensuring ease of access. 

The initiative complements other welfare programs, such as the Himmat Card, which provides quarterly financial assistance of Rs 10,500 to approximately 65,000 eligible persons with disabilities, and the upcoming launch of Pakistan’s largest ration card program on May 1, benefiting 1.25 million families with Rs 10,000 each.

Provincial Minister for Social Welfare Sohail Shaukat Butt detailed the program’s scope, noting that it includes pediatric wheelchairs and joystick-controlled chairs to cater to diverse needs. The government has also launched the Life Easy Program to streamline access to assistive devices, with applications accepted online via the Social Welfare Department’s portal.

Eligible individuals must submit a CNIC or B-Form and a disability certificate issued by the District Disability Assessment Board. For more information, the public can contact the helpline at 1312.

Sources: ProPakistani, The News, The Express Tribune, Daily Times