K-P promulgates Widows and Special Persons Welfare Foundation Ordinance

Rs500 million will be allocated by the provincial government for the foundation

Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) Governor Shaukatullah Khan promulgated the K-P Deserving Widows and Special Persons Welfare Foundation Ordinance 2013, stated a handout issued by the provincial social welfare department on Tuesday.

Following the promulgation of the new law, a new welfare foundation will be established under the auspices of the social welfare department.

“The foundation would be an independent statutory body to be run by a Board of Governors consisting of a chairperson and 10 members. A majority of the members of the board shall be eminent persons from civil society,” the handout read.

Aside from performing other functions, the board will be responsible for approving cases of deserving widows and differently abled people for financial assistance grants. The board shall also take steps for the generation of resources for the foundation from within the country and abroad, reads the document.

Initially, the provincial government will allocate Rs500 million for the foundation, while philanthropists from within the country and abroad would be asked to join in for generating funds.

According to the handout, Rs30,000 per month will be given to widows, while Rs25,000 per month will be given to people with disabilities.

As per the statistics collected by the social welfare department, there are 69,000 impoverished widows and an equal number of differently abled people in the K-P, states the handout. In the first year of its operation, 14,000 widows and 13,000 people with disabilities will benefit from the scheme, while more will continue to benefit over the years.

A spokesperson for the department was confident that philanthropists will generously contribute for a noble cause. He further added the affairs of the foundation will be transparent and open to public scrutiny.

The official elaborated those people receiving aid from zakat funds shall also be eligible to receive assistance from the foundation because the Guzara allowance (Rs1,000) paid monthly to widows from zakat is too meagre in view of current inflation.

The foundation shall take care of non-Muslim and Muslim widows and persons with disabilities, added the spokesperson.