ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan has directed the concerned authorities to provide quality services to the deserving people staying at shelter homes across Pakistan.
The statement came during a visit to panahgah (shelter home) at Peshawar Mor in Islamabad. During the visit, the prime minister advised taking care of the people residing there and providing a healthy atmosphere.
On the occasion, the premier interacted with the people residing at the panahgah and inquired about facilities being provided to them. He also visited the kitchen of the shelter home to inspect the quality of services.
PM Imran Khan said the government would never worry about the funding of such facilities if it succeeded to win the people’s confidence regarding efficiency and transparency as it would attract the donors to join the noble initiative.
While calling panagah and langar khanas a “divine service”, the prime minister directed the authorities concerned to ensure observance of quality standards there to serve the down-and-out people without hurting their dignity.
The prime minister, who blended into the people and joined them at dinner, said the employment opportunities would grow manifold consequent to the government’s ongoing economic policies. He said the pro-poor facilities would rather prove counter-productive if they provided a filthy or unhealthy atmosphere to the beneficiaries.
Special Assistant to the PM on Social Safety and Poverty Alleviation Dr Sania Nishtar, Pakistan Baitul Mal (PBM) Managing Director Aun Abbas Buppi and Senator Faisal Javed accompanied the prime minister, who inspected the facility including the registration room, washrooms and other sections.
During the briefing, the PBM head told the prime minister that work on the remodeling of four shelter homes in the federal capital had almost been completed while the fifth one being built at Tarnol will be finished within 45 days. He said the PBM would establish five shelter homes each in Sindh and Balochistan, and eight each in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa by January 31, 2021.
Dr Sania Nishtar the panagah initiative was close to the prime minister’s heart and was particularly meant to support the daily wagers in major cities, who otherwise had to spend nights in the open bearing the harsh weather conditions.
