PM Imran promises ‘mega package’ to curb poverty

–Inaugurates first of five shelter homes to be built in Lahore for the underprivileged 

–Says govt stands by SC’s verdict in Aasia Bibi blasphemy case

LAHORE: Prime Minister Imran Khan on Saturday said that his government is soon going to launch a mega package to curb poverty.

Addressing a ceremony after laying the foundation stone of a shelter home in the provincial capital, Prime Minister Imran said that shelter home will provide free food to poor people thrice a day.

The PM announced that in seven to ten days, the government would launch its project for the alleviation of poverty, which would be “unlike any other in Pakistan”. He added that the package would be a coordinated effort of all organisations working towards the alleviation of poverty under one umbrella.

“We have said that we will present our full performance to the country in 100 days [since forming government]; the most important part of that is this poverty alleviation package.”

“There was a concept of monarchy in Punjab and ministers were used to luxuries. I decided to appoint Usman Buzdar as the Punjab chief minister after seeing the situation in his constituency. His area and house did not have electricity and there was no hospital there. These kind of people understand the difficulties masses are facing,” he said.

“We have resources but are not concerned with the homeless because they are not our vote bank,” PM Imran lamented.

Speaking about a picture of a homeless family in Lahore which recently went viral on the social media, the premier said, “If people do not feel compassionate after seeing this picture I do not consider them human.” “It was Allama Iqbal and Mohammad Ali Jinnah’s dream to make Pakistan a model Islamic state.”

“We have spent the last two months saving the country from default. Now we have to concentrate on making Pakistan a welfare state and this is the first step,” he continued.

The premier said that he had directed Chief Minister Buzdar to allocate five spots in the city for constructing shelters for the homeless. “These spots are in areas where people arrive from outside the city to seek employment,” he added.

The shelter building will be based upon a “state of the art” design with simplicity in order to improve its utility, besides availability of separate facilities to ensure best usage of the place.

It will also include construction of multi-purpose halls for imparting training and holding of public awareness programmes on vital social objectives.

Congratulating the Punjab chief minister on the project, PM Imran said, “This reminds me of the time when I used to lead the cricket team and used to select players who went on to become Wasim Akram and Inzamamul Haq. This will be just like that.”

Prime Minister Imran also stated that the government stands by the Supreme Court’s verdict in the Aasia Bibi blasphemy case.

“There will be no compromise on the top court’s decision. The state cannot function if the court’s orders cannot be implemented,” he maintained.