LAHORE: The Punjab government on Wednesday gave in-principle approval to setting up Punjab Shelter Homes Authority to oversee the arrangements of shelter homes and the Punjab Communication and Works Departments has been given the task to look after its buildings.

In this connection, a meeting was held here that was chaired by Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar. On the occasion, the CM also accorded approval to establish 10 new shelter homes in rented buildings in the provincial metropolis. He directed the officials concerned to identify suitable places for new shelter homes at the earliest. "This model will be replicated in other big cities in phases and standard of facilities will also be improved," he said.

He disclosed that Punjab Information Technology Board (PITB) will devise an IT-based system to digitally monitor the shelter homes. "All shelter homes will be geo-tagged and necessary data will be collected every day. The government will develop the best system to facilitate the poor people," he added. The CM also directed them to install signboards on important roads to make shelter homes visible to all and also asked them to acquire more vehicles for shifting abandoned people, sleeping on city roads, to nearby shelter homes. In this connection, the cooperation of the philanthropist should be acquired," he added.

The meeting decided to set up rehabilitation centres for baggers and addicts along with the start of almonries for feeding the needy people outside shelter homes.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2020