‘Nation to become a model for others’

Imran launches project aimed at providing shelter for the homeless in Lahore

Prime Minister Imran Khan yesterday said the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf government was paying full attention to the public welfare projects the country would emerge as a social welfare model state in the Muslim world.

He was speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony of ‘Panah Gah’, a project for providing shelters to homeless people, who spend nights in different areas of Lahore without a roof on their heads.

Areas identified

The prime minister said officials had identified five areas in Lahore for establishment of Panah Gah and expressed confidence that soon, it would be turned into a centre of excellence. Food in all the proposed five centres would be subsidised, he said.

A board of governance would oversee the project, whereas support of a number of philanthropists working on different projects in the province would be sought, he added.

The prime minister lamented that in the past, no one had paid attention to the pitiable conditions of the homeless people, the majority of whom are labourers who spent nights on footpaths and in the streets of Lahore, including in Shahdarah, Ichra, and Data Darbar.

They were voiceless people and had no vote bank, that’s why they were ignored, he said, adding no society could progress without having humane consideration for its down-and-out segments. The reason for the neglect was lack of sense and not that of resources, he added. The prime minister observed that the homeless people had to brace for the rainy season and with the advent of winter and pollution in Lahore, their problems would multiply.

He also referred to a picture depicting a labourer covering his children under a blanket, which had gone viral on social media. A person who did not take pity upon such situations could not be called a human, he added.

The PM said, as the issue of balance of payment was now resolved, and the imminent danger of the country being declared a defaulter was over, his government would fully concentrate on the public oriented projects under its 100 days performance agenda.

The PM said, as the issue of balance of payment was now resolved, his government would fully concentrate on the public oriented projects under its agenda.