CM Punjab inaugurates shelter home at railway station

Buzdar also inspected facilities and enquired about the arrangements for Ramazan

LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar inaugurated the newly-constructed shelter home near the Lahore Railway Station on Wednesday. He also inspected facilities and enquired about the arrangements for Ramazan.

The chief minister was briefed about the project related to the construction of shelter homes in Lahore. Speaking at the inaugural ceremony, Buzdar said that the government was heading towards completing another one of its promises.

The concept of shelter homes was conceived for the needy and homeless citizens who are forced to sleep out in the open because of abject poverty, he said. A shelter home is an institution which not only provides residential facilities and food free-of-charge for citizens, but also ensures their protection and treatment, he said.

There is no such example of such a unique institution at a government level in the past, he said. He added that construction of five shelter homes in Lahore began in November last year, but has not been completed.

“The shelter home will cater to more than 800 people every day and also provide them with breakfast and dinner,” he said. He added that these establishments will also make arrangements for Sehar and Iftar and provide medical treatment to the people.

More than 30,000 homeless citizens stayed at the temporary shelter homes established at Thokar Niaz Baig, Bus Stand, Lahore Railway Station and Data Darbar during the past five months. Approximately, 0.1 million people were also provided breakfast and dinner, he said.

The chief minister said that a board of governors has been formed to maintain and operate the shelter homes. Gohar Ijaz, a well-known philanthropist, has been chosen as the head of this body.

Buzdar revealed that the shelter homes will also be set up at divisional headquarters from the next financial year and established on a district level in the next phase.

Shelter homes will be made fully functional for attendants at six major hospitals in the provincial capital from the next financial year, he said. These shelter homes will be constructed by philanthropists. “The establishment of shelter homes has become a mission for us which will be completed at every cost,” he said.

The chief minister also thanked philanthropists for extending their support for the establishment of shelter homes. He maintained that a time is near when no labourer or passenger has to sleep out in the open.

Punjab Social Welfare Minister Ajmal Cheema and Board of Governors Convener Gohar Ijaz also spoke on the occasion. Provincial Ministers Dr Yasmin Rashid, Aslam Iqbal and other officials were present at the ceremony.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 23^rd, 2019.