Hope takes shape in Hyd

A new centre of the Karachi Down Syndrome Programme (KDSP) was inaugurated in the second largest urban centre of Sindh on Thursday, with the capacity to provide care and support for up to 300 children.

Addressing the inauguration ceremony, Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah announced that similar centres would be established in Sukkur, Larkana, Shaheed Benazirabad, and Mirpurkhas to further expand the programme's outreach across the province.

He lauded the efforts of KDSP and the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPD) for their continued work in supporting children with Down syndrome and their families.

The chief minister said that 65 children had already been registered at the Hyderabad centre. He also directed Hyderabad Mayor Kashif Ali Shoro to identify additional space for the future expansion of the facility.

Earlier, the chief minister was given a detailed tour of the centre by KDSP CEO Tabish Shahzad and co-founder chairman Ali Allawala.

Officials said this is the sixth KDSP centre in Pakistan and the fourth in Sindh.

The facility is expected to serve not only families in Hyderabad but also those from Sanghar, Badin, Mirpurkhas, Dadu, Nawabshah and adjoining districts.

The inauguration ceremony was attended by Sindh Minister for Irrigation Jam Khan Shoro, the mayor, deputy mayor Sagheer Qureshi, lawmakers, dignitaries, and Secretary DEPD Tauha Farooqui along with senior officials.