PESHAWAR, Dec 21: NWFP Minister for Zakat, Ushr and Social Welfare Hafiz Hashmat Khan has asked NGOs to help the government eradicate social evils, such as drug addiction, child abuse and beggary.

“The provincial government will provide them moral and social support,” he said while addressing a function arranged by the Friends of Mind Society (FMS) at the Sarhad Hospital for Mental Rehabilitation (SHMR) here on Thursday.

SHMR Medical Superintendent Sajid Shaheen, FMS General Secretary Maj (retd) Gulzar and Naib Nazim Town II Israrullah advocate were also present at the function.

Earlier, the FMS general secretary briefed the minister on the activities of the society carried out for the welfare of mentally-challenged people and informed him of their future plans in this regard. He called for more funds for looking after the people suffering from mental diseases.

The minister said that the government established an addict rehabilitation centre as well as Darul Kafala for bringing drug addicts and beggars back to life. All latest treatment and rehabilitation facilities were extended at these centres, he added.

He said nobody in the previous governments ever thought of a large number of heroin addicts and beggars that the province was full of. It was the MMA government that established the two centres for the rehabilitation of such people, he added.—PPI