Social Protection Authority likely

LAHORE:

One authority will ensure social protection and monitor all programmes under way in Punjab to help the weak segments of the society, the provincial cabinet decided on Thursday.

The cabinet approved the Punjab Social Protection Policy 2022 in a meeting presided over by Chief Minister Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi.

He said on the occasion that a strategy for the welfare of the people would be implemented through the first consolidated social protection policy of Punjab.

He said 129 social protection programmes were being run under different departments in the province.

The public welfare programmes will overseen by a single social protection authority.

The Punjab cabinet approved the merger of the Zakat and Ushr, social welfare and Baitul Mal departments to establish a department of social protection.

The cabinet paid tribute to PTI chairman Imran Khan for collecting funds for the flood-affected people through a telethon. It also lauded the services of Dr Sania Nishter, Head of Punjab Ehsas Programme, in the flood relief efforts.

The CM revealed that the Punjab government had distributed Rs5 billion among 36,000 flood survivor families so far.

Financial assistance has been extended to the affected people for the construction of their houses.

The Punjab government had ensured settlement of the affected people with the amount collected through the telethon of Imran Khan and from its own resources, the chief minister said.

He complained that the federal government had not contributed a single penny for assisting the affected people in Punjab.

The Punjab government had not received any assistance from the foreign aid and goods sent for the flood-affected people, he added.

He said the Punjab government was protesting over the allegedly discriminatory attitude of the federal government.

The chief minister claimed that the Sindh government had not share data of the people affected by the flood despite repeated reminders.

The Punjab government has reminded the Sindh government for the third time to share the data after a complete survey so that assistance can be provided to the deserving people. The Punjab government has allocated Rs1 billion to assist the flood-affected people of Sindh. The CM maintained that he wanted the Sindh government to provide authentic data at the earliest so that the deserving people could receive their rightful share.

He said the direct disbursement of aid through the Bank of Punjab without any interference was an exemplary initiative.

Punjab holds the distinction of preparing the first disaster aid release management system.

Dr Nishter and the Punjab PDMA director general presented a comprehensive briefing to the cabinet about the assistance being provided to the people affected by this year’s flood.

The provincial cabinet was I formed that the families having up to two children would be given grant by linking the family planning scheme with the Punjab Ehsas Programme. The World Bank will provide a grant of $130 million for the success of the family planning programme.

The Punjab cabinet expressed its serious reservations over the attitude of the federal government over not paying the amount related to the universal health insurance programme.

It demanded that the federal government release the dues of Punjab at the earliest.

In other decisions, the cabinet approved the establishment of the Khatimun Nabieen (PBUH) University in Lahore and allocated Rs1 billion for the provision of facilities in it. The amount will be disbursed under the Annual Development Programme and a VC Block, mosque and hostel will be built in the university.

Approval was also granted for allocation of Rs3 billion to construct a parking plaza, overhead bridge and underground passage for the devotees visiting Data Darbar.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 30^th, 2022.