One shelter house to remain open during Eid
Zubair Qureshi
In Islamabad one of five shelter houses (Panahgah) will remain open during the Eid-al-Fitr holidays to cater for those poor and the needy who want to stay during this period, however, those who want to travel will be provided with necessary stipend and assistance to spend the religious festival with family and friends.
Prime Minister’s Focal Person for Panahgah, Naseemur Rehman said this while replying to a query of Pakistan Observer during a visit to the Panahgah Mandi Mor.
All the five Panahgah in the federal capital have intensified efforts to enforce the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) ato counter the threat posed by the third wave of COVID19, he said.
In this difficult time of shrinking jobs in thae informal sector and rising prices, Panahgahs are proving the biggest relief for the poor and the needy in accordance with the vision of Prime Minister Imran Khan, he further said.
Earlier, during the visit to the Mandi Mor Panahgah, Naseemur Rehman broke his fast with the guests at the Panahgah and directed the staff of the facility as well as the guests to strictly follow the SOPs that include wearing of face masks, maintaining social distance and washing hands frequently.
For the safety of our lives and the lives of our close relatives and children we need to follow the SOPs, he further said.
Panahgahs are providing Sehr-o-Iftar facilities to the faithful in the Holy Month of Ramazan without fail and the poor people, particularly the daily wagers have termed it a great relief for them as they don’t have the usual sources of income and normal earnings due to the epidemic of COVID-19.
“The Sehar-o-Iftar services at these Panahgahs have given us a new sense of protection,” said Ziaur Rehman , a daily wager who was there to break the fast.
Inspired by the “genuine gesture” of the government, he has joined the public awareness campaign and is part of the mask vendors who are now a common sight at Panahgahs.
They make sure that face masks are readily available at these facilities and those who want to avail themselves of the Sehr-o-Iftar or either of the two come wearing face masks.
Naseemur Rehman said an awareness campaign has been launched to make the public realize how important it was to wear face masks and follow the health guidelines in accordance with the directions of the National Command & Operation Centre (NCOC).
