PESHAWAR: Jamaat-i-Islami chief Sirajul Haq has said the government should set up a full-fledged ministry and departments at the federal and provincial levels to look after millions of orphans in the country.

Speaking at a function in connection with the World Orphan Day here on Wednesday, he said total number of orphans in the country was around 4.5 million, but unfortunately there was no department or directorate to work for the welfare of these helpless children.

He urged the government to work out a proper policy at the federal and provincial levels for welfare of orphans. He said Pakistan was among the 10 countries having high number of orphans, adding the government should establish orphanages in all cities and towns.

Sirajul Haq said a welfare body of the Jamaat was providing healthcare, food and education to more than 20,000 orphans across the country. He said the party had planned to establish orphanages in every city. He said orphans would not be left alone.

Earlier, the JI chief inaugurated 125-bed wards for Covid-19 patients in the city. On the occasion, he said it was national duty of the people to follow standard operating procedures to contain the deadly virus.

Published in Dawn, April 29th, 2021