‘Punjab takes lead in social protection policy’

LAHORE

Provincial Minister for Finance Dr Ayesha Ghous Pasha has said the Punjab government has taken a lead in framing the Social Protection (SP) policy after extensive literature review and months of consultation with all the stakeholders, including the federal government and the World Bank.

The policy builds on the strategic direction set by the growth strategy, and provides a set of actions for the province to achieve goals in keeping with national priorities and true to international norms. She said special persons needed attention and collective efforts for comprehensive rehabilitation as they were most vulnerable section of society. Punjab Social Protection Authority (PSPA) in collaboration with Punjab Small Industries is providing interest-free loans to the beneficiaries of Khidmat Card programme on the one hand and all other special persons in Punjab up to PMT score-40 on the other. All applicants however need to have a viable business plan and have either obtained skill training/internship from skills providing institutes in public/private sectors. She expressed these views presiding over the 6th meeting of the Board of Punjab Social Protection Authority in Finance Department. CEO and Deputy CEO PSPA Dr Sohail Anwer and Tahir Raza Hamdani besides all other members of the board and the officers concerned were present.