Staff Reporter
Peshawar
In pursuance of the government’s efforts to establish a welfare state on lines of Riasat e Madina, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has completed the establishment of three additional Shelter Homes in District Abbottabad, Dera Ismail Khan and Swat whereas establishment of Shelter Homes in Bannu, Mardan, Kohat, Wanna South Waziristan and District Khyber is underway.
While briefing the Chief Minister on the steps taken for welfare of citizens, Secretary Social Welfare clarified that 17914 shelter less people have been facilitated so far in the operational shelter homes. The Chief Minister was informed that efforts are currently underway for registration of Senior Citizens throughout the province under which 0.785 Million senior citizens have been registered out of the estimated 2.8 Million senior citizens in the province.
These citizens will be provided with Senior Citizen Cards through which they will avail general financial assistance and assistance healthcare facilities. Currently, 6000 senior citizens have been facilitated through special counters established in major hospitals of the province. Chief Minister Mahmood Khan directed that Senior Citizens should also be provided with free transportation throughout the province especially in the Bus Rapid Transit project along with exempting them from long queues at public places.
Mahmood Khan further directed the concerned authorities to initiate crackdown against professional beggary in the province adding that out of province beggars have flooded the provincial capital which are a source of nuisance for citizens.
