LAHORE: Chief Minister Usman Buzdar on Wednesday inaugurated the first Panahgah (shelter home) near the railway station.

The construction of five shelter homes was announced by Prime Minister Imran Khan when he had laid the foundation stone of the one near the railway station on Nov 10. Through shelter homes, the prime minister wished to transform Pakistan into a welfare state. He had also announced such shelter homes for Rawalpindi and other cities.

Since November, five makeshift shelters were functioning around Lahore. The first constructed shelter – Panahgah – has now been inaugurated.

The chief minister inspected the facilities at the Panahgah and inquired those staying there about the arrangements for Sehr and Iftar. He was also given a briefing about the construction of other shelter homes in Lahore.

Speaking at the inaugural ceremony, the chief minister claimed that the government was heading towards the completion of another promise of providing shelter to the underprivileged according to the vision of PM Khan.

Under the model of a Madina state, the chief minister said, Mr Khan had presented the concept of shelter homes for the needy and homeless who were forced to sleep out in the open because of abject poverty. “A shelter home is an institution that not only provides free residential and food facilities, but protection and treatment of the inmates is also ensured,” he added.

Mr Buzdar said the construction of four other shelter homes in Lahore was now complete, where over 800 homeless people would be provided residential facility as well as breakfast and dinner every day. During Ramazan, he said, Sehr and Iftar are being arranged, while medical treatment would also be provided in case of illness.

During the last five months, the chief minister said, the five temporary shelters had been availed by over 30,000 people, while around 100,000 passengers were provided breakfast and dinner.

He said a board of governors had been constituted to maintain and run the shelter homes in Lahore. Mr Gohar Ijaz, a philanthropist, had been chosen as the head of the board.

He said shelter homes would also be set up in divisional headquarters from the next financial year, and in the next phase expanded to district level. Moreover, shelter homes for attendants in six major hospitals of Lahore would be fully functional from the next financial year, which, he said, would be constructed by philanthropists. “A shelter home is not a building, but a symbol of love with fellow human beings as well as an honour of hosting the shelter-less,” he added.

Punjab Social Welfare Minister Ajmal Cheema and Mr Gohar Ijaz also spoke on the occasion.

Provincial ministers Dr Yasmin Rashid and Mian Aslam Iqbal, the Lahore commissioner, the Lahore Development Authority vice chairman, information secretary and people from different walks of life attended the ceremony.

Published in Dawn, May 23rd, 2019