PM’s free food service expanded to three more cities

LAHORE: The free food service under ‘No One Sleeps Hungry’ program has been formally expanded to Faisalabad, Lahore and Peshawar.

Chief Ministers of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab inaugurated the program in their respective provinces while Prime Minister Imran Khan virtually witnessed the ceremony from Islamabad.

Addressing the ceremony, Prime Minister Imran Khan has resolved to expand the network of meals-on-wheels kitchens to the entire country.

He said it is the responsibility of the state to take care of its weaker segments of society and this program will benefit the poor and the most deserving people across Pakistan. He said the provision of free food to the poor is a great service to humanity, which will shower Allah Almighty’s blessings on Pakistan.

The premier explained that when he planned to set up the Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital and Research Centres (SKMCH&RC), even the doctors told him it was difficult to run the facility.

Now, however, the hospital gives free treatment to 70% of the cancer patients, he added. “We fulfilled the promise made to the people and gave free treatment to cancer patients, besides arranging for their food and accommodation,” he said.

PM Imran Khan mentioned that he first established the SKMCH&RC in Lahore with Rs700 million, with the cancer hospital having spent Rs50 billion on the treatment of people until now. The second one, he added, was built in Peshawar and a third would be constructed in Karachi.

The people of Pakistan gave money for the construction of all three hospitals, he said, adding that the same would now make the ‘Ehsaas Koi Bhooka Na Soye Programme’ successful.

PM Imran Khan also thanked Saylani Welfare Trust for contributing in this noble cause of free food service. He appreciated Chief Ministers of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab for their efforts in inaugurating this service in their provinces.

The prime minister said his government has launched multiple programmes for the first time in the history of Pakistan, which include establishment of shelter homes and free meals for the welfare of poor people.

He said the government is committed to provide universal health coverage in Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Islamabad through health cards to every citizen under which the holder can get medical treatment upto one million rupees from any hospital.

He said the government is focusing on establishing a network of hospitals across Pakistan to provide quality health services to the people.

The concept of truck kitchens ‘Ehsaas Koi Bhooka Na Soye’ was launched by the prime minister last month under the umbrella of Ehsaas to serve free meal boxes twice a day to daily wage earners in Rawalpindi and Islamabad.

Till now meals have been distributed among over 37,000 people.  The programme will be launched in other parts of the country later this year in phases. The truck kitchens are well equipped with safe cooking appliances and is designed to serve healthy meals.

The ‘Ehsaas Koi Bhooka Na Soye’ programme will explicitly target those who cannot access Ehsaas Panagahs and Ehsaas Langars.

The programme is Prime Minister Imran Khan’s vision for the year 2021 and he had committed his resolution that the initiative would be rolled out to make sure that no one goes to bed empty stomach. Each truck will feed 1,500 to 2000 people daily on designated service points.