Over 29,000 special children to benefit from Himmat Cards in Punjab

LAHORE, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 21st Jun, 2026) The Punjab government has started distribution of Himmat Cards among 29,768 eligible special children across the province on the directions of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif, as part of a comprehensive welfare initiative aimed at promoting their independence, confidence and social inclusion.

The distribution campaign was formally launched at the Maryam Nawaz Centre of Excellence in Okara, where Special Assistant to the Chief Minister on Special Education Sania Ashiq inaugurated the programme along with the secretary and director general of the Special Education Department, said a media release issued here on Sunday.

Addressing the ceremony, Sania Ashiq said that 96 students of the Centre received Himmat Cards during the inaugural event, while the cards would be distributed among 29,768 eligible special children throughout Punjab. She said the initiative reflected the chief minister’s vision of empowering children with special needs and ensuring their access to improved opportunities and facilities.

She said the Punjab government was providing various facilities to special children, including Himmat Cards, assistive devices, therapy services and nutritious food. She announced that satellite campuses of autism schools would be established in every division of Punjab to provide assessment and therapy services closer to the homes of special children and their families.

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The special assistant said the provincial government was also providing fortified biscuits and protein-enriched milk daily to 45,000 special children across Punjab. “Our endeavour is to provide the best possible facilities to these children. Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif and her team share the same concern and compassion for these children as their parents do,” she added.

Sania Ashiq described the Himmat Card as a landmark welfare initiative that would strengthen the confidence, dignity and economic well-being of special children and help them move towards a more independent life. She said the facilities available at the Maryam Nawaz Centre of Excellence were comparable to those of leading institutions and reflected the government’s commitment to inclusive education and rehabilitation.

She added that the Himmat Card had emerged as a symbol of empowerment and self-reliance for special children and was proving to be an important milestone in ensuring their protection, confidence and a brighter future. She also appreciated the personal attention of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif towards welfare initiatives for special children, saying her supervision had played a vital role in their successful implementation across Punjab.