Rustaq – Ministry of Social Development (MoSD) inaugurated a new facility for the Al Wafa Centre for Rehabilitation of Persons with Disa- bilities in Rustaq, South Batinah on Tuesday. The opening ceremony was held under the patronage of Masoud bin Saeed al Hashimi, Governor of South Batinah.

The project is part of the ministry’s ongoing efforts to empower and rehabilitate persons with disabilities, supporting their integration into society through training, economic empowerment  and entrepreneurship. It also aims to raise public awareness of their abilities and promote their active participation in national development.

The new facility will serve more than 70 individuals with mild to moderate disabilities, aged between 14 and 45, enrolled at the Rustaq centre, in addition to beneficiaries from other wilayats of the governorate. It includes three specialised production halls for paper recycling, food processing and printing, all designed in line with safety standards and tailored to the skills and capacities of the centre’s trainees.

Its construction and equipment were jointly funded by several institutions under the Social Responsibility Committee of Minis-try of Energy and Minerals, reflecting effective public and private sector cooperation.

Maimouna Salim al Mundhiri, Director General of Social Development in South Batinah, said the project highlights MoSD’s shift from the concept of ‘care’ to ‘empowerment’. “These production halls reaffirm our commitment to creating real job opportunities that ensure stability and enable persons with disabilities to contribute to development,” she said.

She added that the centre provides a safe and supportive environment for enhancing skills, expanding professional opportunities, and fostering creativity through private sector partnerships. “This initiative promotes equal opportunities, supports economic inclusion, and contributes to improving quality of life for persons with disabilities.”