By Fazal Khaliq
MINGORA: The physically challenged youth of upper Swat displayed their skills at a function in Shawar area of Matta tehsil here on Monday.
The event titled ‘Exploring youth potential’ was organised by Shawar Development Forum in collaboration with Sarhad Rural Support Programme under European Union PEACE project. Apart from a large number of youth, people from different walks of life attended the event and appreciated the talent and skills of the physically challenged youth.
Sher Ali Khan, a physically challenged boy, received high applause from the audience by presenting a song in his melodious voice. He said that most of the people made fun of him for his abnormal walk which hurt his feelings. “But today so many elders and youth appreciated me for my songs which encouraged me. I love to sing,” he said.
Sher Ali Khan was happy to receive award for his performance and said that he would decorate it in his room.
Sirajud Din Siraj, a local poet, appreciated the physically challenged youth for their talent and said that he enjoyed their skills at the event. “There is talent in our youth living in the rural parts of Swat but they have fewer opportunities to exhibit their skills,” he said.
Mr Siraj said that the youth would prove their mettle if they were given more opportunities of exhibiting their talent. Such events should be arranged in other parts of Swat too, he added.
Habibullah Khan, the nazim of Shower union council, said that he was surprised to see the performances of persons with disabilities. “I never expected that they could perform in such a way. They even performed better than normal people,” he said.
The nazim said that local government would extend full support in organising such events for youth development.
At the end, the organisers of the show distributed awards and prizes among the youth, who performed at the event.
“Today persons with disabilities performed alongside normal youth and their faces were lit with joy. We should consider them a part of our society and facilitate them to work and play with the normal people,” said Bahdar Ali, a representative of SRSP.
