Punjab government set up three make shift shelters with all facilities for homeless people of Lahore on Sunday where they can stay and get foodstuff till construction of five permanent shelters. Earlier, on Saturday, PM Imran Khan had asked Punjab CM Usman Buzdar to set up tents for people sleeping on foot paths and provide them food as the weather is turning increasingly cold.
Following the PM's directions, the chief minister immediately set up makeshift shelters at Data Darbar, Railway Station and Thokar Larry Adda and provided quilts and food to the homeless. The prime minister has called this initiative "first step towards transforming Pakistan into a welfare state. People at the Panah Gah and on social media appreciated the step to help the homeless. It may be added that thousands of people from rural areas of the province come to the provincial capital for earning livelihood and they sleep on foot paths and open spaces to spend the night.
It may be recalled that on November 10, Khan laid the foundation stone of Shelter Home Project in Lahore, the first of five at, Railway station, Icchra, Chauburji, Data Darbar and Shahdra for people who come to Lahore and needed shelter to spend the night. The PM also stated in the same tweet that Panah Gah spots were also being established in Peshawar and Karachi where the visitors would be provided shelter and food. PTI government has vowed to build a social net for voiceless so that everyone had a shelter and access to health and education, he added.