Punjab govt to introduce first social welfare policy

LAHORsE : A dialogue on social welfare policy draft was held at LUMS University under the auspices of Punjab Social Welfare Department.

Provincial Caretaker Minister for Health and Social Welfare Prof Dr Javed Akram was a special guest while Secretary Social Welfare Zahoor Hussain, DG Mudassar Riaz Malik and others were also present.

A presentation was given on the services of the Social Welfare Department and the draft policy under consideration. Lawyers, academicians, representatives of NGOs and other participants gave suggestions on the policy. The minister said the departmental services and performance would ismprove with the formulation of the policy and added this would be the first policy of the Social Welfare Department of Punjab in 76 years. He said the Department of Social Welfare and Bait-ul-Maal was the department for the welfare of the people and added the department had undertaken the rehabilitation of differently-abled persons. Zahoor Hussain said that the social welfare policy would be sent to the Cabinet for approval after consultation. Mudassar Riaz said that the social welfare policy would be in accordance with the Constitution of Pakistan, laws and international agreements.