Staff Reporter
The inclusive steps of ‘Panahgahs’ (shelter homes) management have yielded positive results as so far not a single case of the coronavirus has been reported from such crowded places, mainly due to massive sensitization of the dwellers about key preventive measures such as mask wearing, hand-washing and social distancing.
“Since the start of pandemic in Pakistan, a proactive approach has been adopted to protect the lives of ‘panahgahs’ dwellers who are more prone to contract the virus due to their pre-existing medical conditions,” Prime Minister’s Focal Person on ‘Panahgahs’ Naseem ur Rehman told the media at ‘Tarlai Shelter Home’.
‘Tarlai Shelter Home’ is among the six ‘Panahgahs’ of twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi and located at the Federal capital’s outskirts, serving over 200 daily wage earners every day by providing two times meal and over night stay to needy and shelterless people.
“In a quick response to the coronavirus threat, a comprehensive campaign title ‘Keep Panahgahs Clean’ has been launched in the twin cities to transform the scope of shelter homes from food and shelter towards promoting healthy lives at the facilities,” he said while highlighting the management’s major initiative.
Under the campaign, he said politicians, civil society, private sector and affluent community members were being approached to procure soaps, sanitizers, gloves and masks for the shelter homes beneficiaries, which had been increasing with each passing day due to the reopening of construction and other sectors.
Along with providing food and shelter, Naseem said, strong messages on promoting healthy lifestyle were being disseminated to a group of long neglected low income toiling migrant labour.
