Staff Reporter
The coronavirus has transformed the concept of ‘Panahgah’ in the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad, shifting its service providers’ focus from providing food and shelter to promoting healthy lives at the facilities.
The shelter homes have so far remained the corona-free due to consistent and concentrated efforts of its management which has been taking extra steps to stem the spread of Coronavirus at the crowded facilities which are more prone to spur its outbreak.
“Keeping ‘Panahgahs’ open in times of the coronavirus is a bold decision as it can be a high-risk area due to overcrowding and presence of people with pre-existing health conditions,” said Prime Minister Focal Person on the Shelter Homes Naseem ur Rehman.
Talking to the media persons at Tarlai Shelter Home during his routine visit, he said the situation arose after the coronavirus pandemic, had posed a greater challenge to the management for ensuring smooth running of the ‘Panahgahs’. However, it had taken this challenge with increased efforts and launched a comprehensive campaign to keep ‘Panahgahs’ as clean and tidy places.
He said the ‘Keep Panahgahs Clean’ drive was being properly implemented in the twin cities with multi-faceted partnership, covering the private sector, civil society and community. “All the sectors have been mobilized under the drive to make sure healthy environment at the shelter homes dwellers,” the focal person added.
He said the district administrations of Islamabad and Rawalpindi had been playing leading role in keeping the ‘Panahgahs’ neat and clean by sanitizing and disinfecting the facilities on regular basis.
