LAHORE: The Punjab Social Protection Authority under the Punjab Ehsaas Programme has launched “Nai Zindagi” and “Punjab Human Capital Investment Project” at a cost of Rs53.25 billion.

Presiding over the launch ceremony, Chief Minister Usman Bazdar said both projects were of great importance. He said the Punjab Ehsaas Programme was the first step towards materialising the dream of “Riyasat-i-Madinah”.

Under the “Nai Zindagi” programme, the chief minister said, treatment facilities would be provided to men and women suffering from acid attack besides rehabilitation of such patients.

He stressed that social rights of acid attack victims should be safeguarded besides providing them with dignified living opportunities.

“The Punjab government will bear complete treatment expenditures of the acid victims,” he announced.

Mr Buzdar said state-of-the-art burn units had been set up at Jinnah Hospital and Mayo Hospital in Lahore, Victoria Hospital in Bahawalpur, Nishtar Hospital in Multan, Allied Hospital in Faisalabad and Holy Family Hospital in Rawalpindi.

He said interest-free loans for providing skills and self-employment would be arranged to the affected people. Initially, he said, Rs200 million had been allocated for Nai Zindagi programme.

Published in Dawn, September 13th, 2020