Zubair Qureshi
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has provided 48 tons of food packets to the Government of Pakistan for its flagship Panagah (Shelter Home) set up in the federal capital.
The Deputy Head of the Mission (DHM) of the UAE Embassy in Islamabad Abdul Aziz Al Neyadi handed over the 48,000-kg of basic food items to the Special Assistant to Prime Minister for Social Protection and Poverty Alleviation Dr Sania Nishter on Friday at G-9/4 Panagah in Peshawar Morr.
According to Abdul Aziz Al Neyadi the initiative is in line with the UAE’s humanitarian and charitable role and its persistence for relief and development initiatives in brotherly and friendly countries.
Dr Sania Nishtar on behalf of the government of Pakistan thanked the UAE embassy and the government for the gesture and support to the Pakistan government’s poor-friendly initiative.
We greatly value our relations with the UAE and this support by the brotherly country would go a long way in helping the poor and the needy celebrate their Eid with their near and dear ones with dignity and honour, she said.
Prime Minister’s Focal Person for Panagah Naseem-ur-Rehman was also present on the occasion.
He briefed the UAE’s dignitary about the concept and working of the Panagah that is a brainchild of Prime Minister Imran Khan who wants ‘no one in Pakistan will sleep hungry or without shelter over his head.’
Even during the holy month of Ramazan-ul-Mubarak all the Panagah of Islamabad are fully operational providing Sehr-o-Iftaar with all the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for Covid-19 in place, he said.
In the Eidul Fitr holidays, one of the five shelter homes (Panagah) will remain open to cater for those poor and the needy who want to stay during this period, he said adding, however, those who want to travel will be provided with necessary stipend and assistance to spend the religious festival with family and friends.
