Government Departments Accused of Misusing Special Education Buildings

Islamabad: (Nadeem Tanoli) The briefing on the Directorate General of Special Education sparked an emotional and urgent discussion in Parliament, as lawmakers confronted alarming revelations about the misuse of buildings, staff shortages, and systemic neglect in a department dedicated to serving children with disabilities.

Director General Captain Atif delivered a detailed presentation, tracing the Directorate’s journey since its establishment in 1985. Once serving a broader national mandate, its current focus is limited to the Islamabad Capital Territory following the 18th Amendment. Despite operational constraints, the Directorate has managed to expand its student enrollment from just 400 to 1,799 children, largely through the revival of its transport fleet that provides a 100% pick-and-drop service.

The Directorate runs 8 to 9 institutions tailored to various disabilities, offering a wide range of therapeutic services including physical, occupational, speech, and music therapy. For children with visual impairments, the Directorate maintains a Braille press, and for those with physical disabilities, a once-defunct Prosthetic & Orthotic Workshop has been revived to produce customized assistive devices. Skill development and vocational rehabilitation services also target students aged 15 to 26, enhancing their employment potential. The facilities include limited hostel accommodation, which the Directorate hopes to expand.

However, the briefing took a somber turn as the DG highlighted critical challenges threatening the Directorate’s functionality. The most shocking revelation was that multiple purpose-built buildings intended for special education have been commandeered by other government bodies. The Rehabilitation Center for Children with Developmental Disorders (RCCD), for example, is being used as the head office of Pakistan Bait-ul-Mal. Similarly, parts of the National Special Education Center for Physically Handicapped Children are occupied by the Private Educational Institutions Regulatory Authority (PEIRA) and the Federal Medical & Dental College (FMDC). Even the Directorate’s own housing colony for staff has been converted into a Working Women’s Hostel.

These unauthorized occupations are directly hindering the Directorate’s ability to expand services, particularly its hostel capacity for children from remote areas. Adding to the crisis is a massive staff shortage, with 142 posts currently vacant. Lawmakers were alarmed to learn that 64 additional sanctioned posts were permanently abolished under a so-called “right-sizing” initiative. The recruitment process for the remaining positions has stalled due to delays at the Establishment Division.

Parliamentary committee members reacted with visible frustration and concern. They condemned the occupation of facilities as disgraceful and unacceptable, declaring it a violation of the rights of children with special needs. The committee issued a formal directive to the Ministry to immediately pursue the evacuation of all occupied buildings and restore them to their intended use. It also pledged full support for restoring the abolished posts and completing recruitment for the remaining vacancies.

Despite the overwhelming obstacles, the committee praised Captain Atif and his team for their resilience and innovation, especially noting the upcoming launch of the Center of Excellence for Autism, which will cater to 300 children. Lawmakers acknowledged the Directorate’s work as a vital and noble contribution to society and emphasized the need for immediate structural reforms to safeguard the future of special education in Pakistan.