Less than 5% of deaf children go to school in Pakistan

KARACHI: Muhammad Iqbal Memon, Commissioner, Karachi, visited Deaf Reach School and Training Centre in the Gulistan-e-Johar, Karachi.  

Mrs. Ayesha Iqbal Memon also accompanied him. Richard Geary, Founder and Executive Director of the institute, Mrs. Heidi Richard, Director Francis Doherty, Maria Paola, Principal, Sakina Ali, and others were present on occasion.  

During the visit, Commissioner, Karachi, inspected various sections of the institute. While briefing Richard Geary told the Commissioner that there are over 1 million deaf children of school age in Pakistan and less than 5 per cent attend schools. 

He added that Deaf Reach is the only branch networks of schools in Karachi, Hyderabad, Tando Allahyar , Sukkur and Shaheed Benazirabad cities of Sindh province catering to the needs of the deaf community, providing a full circle solution from education and skills training, teacher development and parent training, to job placement and community inclusion. 

Geary said that they are working on a digital literacy program so that children who do not have access to school can benefit online.  

Speaking on occasion, Muhammad Iqbal Memon lauded the efforts of the Deaf Reach School in providing quality education and technical training per international standards to the Deaf students. He extended his full support and cooperation to the management of the Deaf Reach Schools network.  

On occasion, Commissioner, Karachi, directed Mukhtiarkar, Gulshan e Iqbal, to resolve the issue of the parking area of the institute in consultation with District Municipal Corporation East.