Punjab govt launches ‘Himat Card’, ‘Nigehban Card’

Lahore: The Punjab government has decided to issue ‘Himat Card’ for special people and ‘Nigehban Card’ under Bait-ul-Mal in Punjab.

A special meeting was held under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Punjab Maryam Nawaz in which Senior Provincial Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb, Senator Pervez Rasheed, Provincial Minister for Social Welfare and Bait-ul-Mal Sohail Shaukat Butt, Member of Provincial Assembly (MPA) Sania Ashiq, Principal Secretary, Secretary Social Welfare and other relevant officials were also present.

During the meeting, a detailed briefing was given to the Chief Minister Punjab regarding the Social Welfare and Bait-ul-Mal Department. The in-principle approval was given for the digitization of the Social Welfare and Bait-ul-Mal Department in the meeting.

Maryam Nawaz has directed to compile the authentic data of special persons while it has been decided to issue special ‘Himat Card’ and ‘Nigehban Card’ for special persons, eligible to work with disabilities. It has been decided to launch a loan scheme for individuals and provide wheelchairs and other assistive devices to the disabled.

She asked for a report on the implementation of the ban on ramps and special person bathrooms in government buildings, while bathrooms and ramps for special people were made mandatory in every new government building.

It was decided in the meeting that one to two hundred thousand rupees will be given as loan to special persons for financial independence.

During the meeting, the activation of Skills Development Centers in Lahore, Multan and Faisalabad and establishment in other districts was reviewed, while the proposal of audit of Non-Government Organizations (NGOs) working for special persons was also considered and drug rehabilitation in each division. The proposal for setting up centers was also reviewed.

The meeting also approved the setup of Violence against Women Centers (VAWC) in every division to address violence against women, while the recommendations for the creation of a Women Protection Authority Task Force were also considered.