Focal Person of Prime Minister for PanahGaahs Mr. Naseem ur Rehman has said that the initiative of PM Imran Khan is going successful in bringing positive change in the lives of marginalized people. A laborer who was unable to send money back home because of the expenditures of daily food and living is saving that money and sending to his home. PanahGaahs are necessary and more should be opened throughout Pakistan. He said that we are running 5 PanahGaahs in Islamabad and no corona patient has been detected from there in the whole year of severe pandemic. It speaks a lot about the work of PTI government in this sector.
He was addressing to the participants of a forum on PanahGaahs hosted by Center of Pakistan and International Relations (COPAIR) in collaboration with Pakistan in the World. Editor Tazeen Akhtar and Chairperson COPAIR Ms Amna Malik also shed light on the project and importance of philanthropy. Here it is worth mentioning that Amna Malik herself is supporting such projects in Islamabad and especially in her native district Khushab.
Mr. Naseem ur Rehman carry an experience of decades of working on community development and social uplift. He has been attached to UN Orgs and Imran Khan Foundation in the past. When Prime Minister Imran Khan decided to provide urgent relief to the poor in shape of PanahGaahs, the only person he found fit for the task was Naseem ur Rehman whose character and characteristics , the PM knew already very well. Naseem ur Rehman proved himself equal to the task.
Naseem ur Rehman said that a person can live in PanahGaah for 10 days in a month and can eat whole month. He can save 300 Rupees daily only in food. This makes 9 Thousand Rupees a month. The residential expenditures are extra to that amount. In this facility, he saves at least 12 Thousand Rupees in one month. This amount he spends on his home. This is a real support for the poor people.
SAPM shared that in the ongoing wave of extreme cold weather, we have provided hot water and heaters in the PanahGaahs. In corona pandemic, every PanahGaah had temperature checking devices, sanitizers and masks. No positive case of corona has been detected in our PanahGaahs.
Naseem ur Rehman said that monthly budget for one PanahGaah is 15 Lakh Rupees. Minimum 100 people eat meal daily. Government shares 30 % and the rest 70% is provided by the big groups. The quality of food is checked by the officials on regular basis. Sometimes Prime Minister himself visits and eat there more than the other people. PM would not eat at his residence whenever he is about to visit PanahGaah. It is only to eat properly with the poor people. This keeps the staff alert and careful.
He said that sometimes the people come to have food on cars or motorcycles. We do not stop them. We think that whoever is coming to PanahGaah is a needy person weather he comes on foot or on his conveyance. Many poor women who are working in the homes take food from PanahGaahs for their children at home.
Naseem ur Rehman said that we have involved the community around the PanahGaahs to look after the affairs. Professionals and Community leaders have been included in the boards that take care of their respective PanahGaah. University students have also been entrusted with responsibilities. As long as, health and treatment is concerned, volunteer doctors have been requested to visit occasionally to their nearest PanahGaah.
The host, Chairperson COPAIR, Amna Malik, in her welcoming remarks, said that PanahGaahs are the best shelter homes for the poor people. She said that charity and philanthropy is needed badly in today’s hard time when corona has affected every section of society. She said that it is our religeous and social duty to do whatever we can for the poor people. She offered full cooperation to SAPM on the promotion of PanahGaahs from her group.
Tazeen Akhtar
