ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan on Saturday asked Chief Minister Punjab Usman Buzdar to set up tents for people sleeping on footpaths in the cold weather.
Informing about his directives via a tweet, PM Khan said: “I have asked CM Punjab to set up tents for people sleeping on footpaths and provide them food until the Panah Gahs (shelters) are built, as the weather is turning increasingly cold. Peshawar and Karachi spots also being located.”
PM Khan had laid a foundation stone of the shelter home project in Lahore on Nov 10.
I have asked CM Punjab to set up tents for people sleeping on footpaths and provide them food until the Panah Gahs (shelters) are built, as the weather is turning increasingly cold. Peshawar and Karachi spots also being located.
— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) November 24, 2018
The project is aimed at housing a number of homeless people who usually spend nights on footpaths or other places in different areas of Lahore city.
The shelter building will be based upon a “state of the art” design with simplicity in order to improve its utility, besides availability of separate facilities to ensure best usage of the place.
Tents being setup in Lahore today as temporary Panah Gahs (shelters) for the homeless sleeping on the footpaths of the provincial capital. pic.twitter.com/psrsOnVfNG
— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) November 24, 2018
It will also include construction of multi-purpose halls for imparting training and holding of public awareness programmes on vital social objectives.
The PM, speaking at the project launching ceremony, said that his party’s aim is to turn Pakistan into a welfare state and the target cannot be achieved without helping the poor segments of the society.
“Should we allow our people to live on footpaths. Our government is bringing a first of its kind poverty alleviation package within a week or two in which all relevant departments will work under a single setup to eliminate poverty,” Mr. Khan had said.
