LAHORE: The Punjab government on Sunday launched a ‘Mobile Lungar’ scheme in two major cities of the province -- Lahore and Faisalabad -- in line with Prime Minister’s Ehsaas programme’s “Koee Bhooka Na Soy” project.

Chief Minister Usman Buzdar inaugurated the scheme and sent ‘food trucks’ on four different routes of Lahore – first route is from Thokar Niaz Beg to Data Darbar to cater Multan Chungi, Mandi Stop, Chowk Yateem Khana and Chauburji areas, second includes Circular Road, Railway Station, Do Moria Pul, Badami Bagh Auto Parts Market, Masti Gate, General Bus Stand, Sabzi Mandi and Niazi Chowk, third covering Ghari Shahoo, Co-op Store, Shalamar, Darogay Wala, and Shadipura, whereas the fourth has areas like Lakshmi Chowk, Mayo Hospital Chowk, Shah Aalam Market, Dalgaraan Chowk and Dehli Gate.

The chief minister said some 10,000 lunch boxes would be distributed daily on these routes. Moreover, two trucks will distribute 10,000 lunch boxes daily in different areas of Faisalabad.

Stating that feeding others was a Sunnah of the Holy Prophet (PBUH) as well as a tradition of the Punjabis, Buzdar said his government had initiated the scheme following Prime Minister Imran Khan’s “Koee Bhooka Na Soy” project.

He said the trucks in Lahore and Faisalabad would provide lunch boxes to the destitute with ultimate respect, especially to the labourers and passengers. Hygienic and quality “iftar” would also be offered to the poor on these routes during Ramazan.

The chief minister said the “Meals on Wheels” service would also be launched in other cities of Punjab as well. In the second phase, he said, mobile kitchen units would also be started where food would be cooked and distributed.

He lauded the Sailani Welfare Trust and the departments concerned on the successful launch of the scheme and said setting up Pannah Gahs (shelters) and almonries was the first concrete step towards establishing the ‘State of Madina’.

The participants also witnessed the inaugural ceremonies of “Koee Bhooka Na Soy” programme being held in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Faisalabad live and listened to the address of Prime Minister Imran Khan.

Published in Dawn, April 12th, 2021