The Punjab government has announced a historic health screening initiative for students enrolled in special-education centres across the province. Under this new programme more than 35,600 children will undergo full medical examinations including eye testing, dental check-ups and diagnosis of various diseases. Out of these, over 20,000 students will receive on-the-spot treatment while more than 9,000 will be referred to tehsil and district hospitals for care, and an additional 5,000 will be sent to major city hospitals for further treatment.

The directive comes from Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif who emphasised that children in special-education centres deserve health access equal to any student. A door-to-door campaign conducted by the government has already resulted in over 5,000 new admissions for special-education programmes, signalling strong community engagement and outreach. In addition to the screening drive the initiative includes educational and digital empowerment: new computer labs, vocational training in content creation and e-commerce, and upcoming awards and laptop distribution for top-performing students.

Safety and monitoring of special-education centres are also being strengthened. The government plans to install nearly 4,381 security cameras in special schools throughout the province linked to a central surveillance room in Lahore, with around 3,450 cameras expected to be operational by November. This coverage will ensure behavioural monitoring and enhanced protection for special-education students in Lahore, Gujranwala, Multan, D.G. Khan, Bahawalpur, Faisalabad, Rawalpindi, Sargodha and Sahiwal divisions.

Through this multi-pronged approach the Punjab government aims to not only address the health needs of special-education students but also foster their inclusion, safety and digital skills. The screening programme represents a key step toward ensuring that children with special needs are given comprehensive support medical, educational and social rather than being left behind.