Punjab government has allocated an amount of Rs 1000 million in the budget 2015-16 for the poverty alleviation programmes of Punjab Social Protection Authority. As per budget document, Punjab government is committed to ensure the welfare of vulnerable groups including women, destitute, senior citizens, children and less privileged people residing in various regions of Punjab.
Targets and major initiatives of the department fixed for 2016-2017 include: establishment of mini Sanatzar at Pasroor (Sialkot) & Taunsa (DG Khan), establishment of beggars home at Faisalabad & Multan, construction of building of shelter homes at Multan, Lodhran, Pakpattan, Kasur, Layyah, Hafizabad, Sheikhupura and Narowal, expansion of survivors of violence against women centres (VAWC) by upgrading the existing Dar-ul-Amans & Shaheed Benazir Bhutto Women Crisis Centres in Bahawalpur and Rawalpindi, establishment of 4 Dastkari schools in Lahore and research study/situational analysis of ex-sex workers and their rehabilitation mechanism.
In ADP 2016-17, an amount of Rs 1584 million has been earmarked for social protection sector. The major part of the proposed allocation for the FY 2016-17 will be utilised for establishment of Qasre-Bahboods in various districts of Punjab and establishment of survivors of violence against women centres (VAWC). During FY 2016-17, the department will implement 19 new schemes. These schemes include construction of buildings of shelter homes etc.
Emergency services Moreover, Punjab government has increased the allocation for emergency services from Rs 1.9 billion in FY 2015-16 to Rs 2.15 billion in FY 2016-17 which represents a 13-percent increase. New schemes have been incorporated which aim at expanding the provision of emergency services at tehsil levels and increasing the capacity of existing units.
As per budget document, Rs 152 million have been set aside for the project "Establishment of Urban Search and Rescue Units of Rescue 1122" in the divisions of Faisalabad, Multan and Gujranwala. Further, for expansion of emergency services at tehsil level, Rs 39 million has been allocated for Establishment of Emergency Services in tehsils of Hassanabdal and Jand in district Attock.
Punjab government believes that it is every individual's basic right to receive timely and quality medical attention in case of an emergency. The need for specialised urban rescue units has long since been felt and it was further intensified by recent incidents involving collapse of large structures and fire breaking out in multi-storey buildings. Emergency services play an extremely critical role in saving lives of numerous accident victims by providing them timely care.