LAHORE: The Punjab government is establishing the Punjab Social Protection Authority to, what it says, provide social protection to the poor and the vulnerable in the province.

“The idea was launched around two years ago but it is now going to be materialised,” an official said on Tuesday.

Official sources said Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif will act as chairman of the proposed body having 16 members, including two from the civil society.

They said the concept of social protection covers all public and private initiatives that provide income or consumption transfers to the poor, protection of the vulnerable against livelihood risks, and enhancement of the social status and rights of the marginalised with the overall objective of reducing their economic and social vulnerability.

The authority will be mandated to formulate social protection policy for the province in consultation with stakeholders and synergising efforts in formulation of the policy with the federal government, national and international institutions.

It will consolidate and coordinate public social protection initiatives through policy framework for each sector, including the federal government initiatives.

It will formulate policies and propose legislation for the welfare and benefit of the poor and the vulnerable and protect their legal rights.

It will ensure equitable allocation of resources in line with carefully identified objectives, determine eligibility criteria for assistance under social protection programmes, formulate policies for effective and efficient mechanisms for relevant agencies and evaluate performance of such agencies.

It will formulate and execute policies for social protection which may include food, education, health, social assistance, social inclusion, labour market regulations and policy risks, and notify criteria for the eligibility of the poor and the vulnerable for financial assistance.

Published in Dawn, November 19th, 2014