Minister for Social Welfare and Special Education, Zubaida Jalal said that a new social policy will be formulated and forwarded to Cabinet for approval soon.
Sources told Business Recorder that new social policy will focus on issues of child labour, senior citizens, orphans, widows and disabled children.
Minister stated this at National Council of Social Welfare (NCSW) where she was given a presentation projects of the Council by its chairman, Iftikharuddin.
She further stated that "National Council for Social Welfare" will initiate a programme with the grant of Asian Development Bank (ADB) for which recommendations will be forwarded in October 2004.
Funds will be provided to the NGOs, working for poverty reduction, he added.
Minister informed that website on NGOs performance would be launched for easy access of the general public and to highlight the concept of e-government to ensure transparency in delivery of services.
Sources said that website will be launched within three months.
The minister announced that a special training programme will be conducted for capacity building of social welfare officers working at grassroots level.
She said that continuation and sustainability of the policies will guarantee national progress.
The Ministry will strictly follow the good governance policy of the Prime Minister and no negligence will be tolerated in this regard, she asserted.
Zubadia Jalal said that it was the time to utilise resources for the welfare of deprived and backward sections of the society.
She appreciated the ongoing programmes of national council of social welfare and advised the officials to introduce new schemes for the betterment of common man. The Ministry will achieve its targets within the time limit.
She further said desired changes would be made in the administration set up of the ministry to meet the challenges of present era.
She said that NGOs are working in partnership with the government. Suitable environment should be provided to NGOs so that they may perform their duties in a better way, she added.
While the Chairman of the National Council of Social Welfare, Iftikar-ur-din highlighted the ongoing projects and activities of Council and said that NGOs involvement in national progress would be encouraged.