Dedicated building for shelter home demanded

Women representatives have demanded a dedicated building for the sole shelter home in Haripur. During a visit to a makeshift and rented facility, they pointed out that the residents of Darul Aman were facing problems because of having no dedicated building. They said that it was essential to build a dedicated shelter home to facilitate the destitute women.

A team led by Muslim League-Nawaz Women’s Wing President Shazia Jadoon visited Darul Aman and met with its head Malka Hijab.

Shazia Jadoon said that keeping all the issues in mind “we all urge the Haripur deputy commissioner and other relevant authorities to move the facility to a government building unless a separate shelter home is constructed. She said that several buildings including the old courts or the basement of the disability complex in Khilabat Town were lying vacant and they can be used as a shelter home.

In-charge Darul Aman Malka Hijab said that millions of rupees were being spent on rented buildings in the absence of a devoted building. She said that they have to shift to a new building every year with the increase in the number of women seeking shelter.

She said that currently several women and children lived in Darul Aman. She said that several letters had been sent to the top governmental officials including the Haripur deputy commissioner highlighting the issues being faced by the management of the shelter home and the inmates, however, no one has paid attention to the issue.

She said that there have also been constant delays in the release of funds for rents by the government and they have to face harassment at the hands of the landlords.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 8^th, 2022.