Minister, Tevta chief mull over special persons’ welfare

LAHORE: Provincial Caretaker Minister of Health and Social Welfare and Bait ul Mal Prof Dr Javed Akram met the Chairperson Tevta Brig (retd) M Sajid Khokhar in his office on Wednesday and discussed various measures for the rehabilitation of differently-abled persons.

Secretary Social Welfare and Bait ul Mal Zahoor Hussain, Tevta COO Qurat ul Ain, Tania Durrani from UNFPA, Zahida from Special Education, Dr Afaq, officers of Department of Social Welfare and Bait ul Mal and differently abled persons from various NGOs were present on this occasion.

Dr Javed Akram on this occasion said that the Department of Social Welfare and Bait ul Mal is a good institution for serving the deserving people and the social welfare is not a work of any department but every human being. Chairperson Tevta should visit the welfare institutions of Social Welfare and Bait ul Mal Department, he said.

He said hearing-impaired children are being taught sign language and differently abled children will be given diplomas for technical education. Rehabilitation centres are being built in Multan and DG Khan for differently abled persons. It is our dream to build a state of the art rehabilitation centre for the differently abled in Lahore, he added.

The minister said that nine different types of courses are being conducted for differently abled children but the courses offered to differently abled children in the country should be updated. Every institution should have a sign language officer, he stressed. Chairperson Tevta while speaking on this occasion said that a ramp will be made in his office for the differently abled people on wheelchairs. Tevta is also providing services in 15 jails of Punjab and it will work as a part of the Social Welfare and Bait ul Mal Department for the rehabilitation of differently abled persons, he vowed.

LG secretary inspects Business Facilitation Centre

Local Government (LG) Secretary Dr Irshad Ahmed Wednesday inspected the Business Facilitation Centre and assessed the available amenities for the convenience of businessmen. On the occasion, the secretary received a comprehensive briefing from representatives of various departments stationed at the centre.

Emphasizing the Local Government Department's commitment, he highlighted that the centre is extending four construction-related services to citizens.

He underscored the efficiency of the department's services at the BFC, noting that NOCs for both commercial and residential construction can be obtained within 30 days.

Additionally, he mentioned that NOCs for conversion can be processed in a shorter timeframe of 45 days, while approval for new housing schemes will take 75 days. The secretary said the establishment of the BFC is a groundbreaking initiative by the Punjab government, addressing the challenges faced by entrepreneurs.