Women refused entry at shelter homes in Lahore

LAHORE: The shelter homes scheme launched by Prime Minister Imran Khan is providing facilities to the homeless and downtrodden masses braving the extreme cold weather.

However, several reports have emerged that there are no facilties at these shelter homes for women and they are been refused entry. A elderly women from Rahim Yar Khan, Noreen Malangi has been forced to spend cold winter nights on the streets of Lahore as Data Darabr shelter home refused to accommodate her.

Speaking to a private new channel, the 65-year-old woman said she came to the shelter home alone but the management refused to let her inside, forcing her to spend the nights on the streets. Malangi has been sitting outside the Data Darbar shelter home for more than a week and has been sent back twice.

Similarly, 62-year-old Aasia came to the shelter located in Shahkot but was also refused entry. She said that there were no rooms for women and they were only letting men in the shelter.

The five shelter homes in Lahore can accommodate 750 men and just 115 women. According to the management of the Data Darbar shelter, women cannot be allowed inside unless female staff is hired.

The in-charge of the Data Darbar shelter home said that there are halls and rooms allotted for women but there been given to men. He questioned how they would handle the situation in case of an emergency with women.

Last week, Prime Minister Imran Khan had issued instructions to the Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa chief ministers to make sure all people have a roof over their heads  in winters. 

The KP and Punjab administrations “must take immediate action to provide temporary shelters plus food for those who cannot be accommodated in existing (shelters),” the prime minister had said in a tweet.

On Wednesday night, the prime minister paid a surprise visit to the Tarlai shelter home in Islamabad. He interacted with the people and inquired about the facilities at the shelter home,

PM Imran Khan inspected the shelter home to assure the best facilities for the people at shelter homes. He warmly greeted those have refuge at the shelter home, from the freezing temperatures in Islamabad.