While addressing a meeting in regard to the progress of the projects of the Punjab Social Protection Authority (PSPA), the Provincial Minister for Finance Dr Ayesha Ghaus Pasha has said that the graduation and assets transfer scheme has been formally launched by the government to make the disabled persons self-sufficient by benefiting from “khidmat cards” issued by PSPA. She said that under this scheme, more than 2,500 cows and buffaloes will be distributed, in collaboration with Livestock and Dairy Development Department, among disabled women aged 35 to 55 years old, in rural areas. The provincial minister said that the first drove of 60 cattle has been handed over to the deserving women of Gujranwala division in Wazirabad, already. She said that the process of distribution of cattle will be completed in other districts of the province by the end of the current fiscal year.
Dr Ayesha Ghaus Pasha said that the graduation scheme will provide respectable jobs to the unattended women in the province through which they would be able to feed their families, as well.
The minister said that “khidmat cards” scheme of the PSPA, Khadim e Punjab zewar taleem programme, education and training of children, financial assistance for brick kiln labourers for eradication of bonded labour, vocational training for deserving youth and provision of interest free loans to the poor people in the province are revolutionary programs of the Punjab government and will not only play an important role in eliminating poverty from the country but will also be helpful in achieving the fixed targets of the growth strategy.
Dr Ayesh Ghaus Pasha said that the development of the corporate sector is impossible without the improvement of the social sector of any region; therefore, prosperity of common man is imperative for economic development.
Chief Administrator PSPA Dr Sohail Anwar told the attendees of the meeting that Social Protection Authority is also planning to provide scholarships to the senior citizens, victims of acid attacks and child workers. He said thousands of families living under the line of poverty will be included in these schemes in next financial year.
Dr Ayesha Ghaus Pasha congratulated Dr Sohail Anwar and his team for successfully launching graduation and assets transfer scheme in the Gujranwala division.