LAHORE: On November 10, Prime Minister Imran Khan broke ground for the construction of tent shelters in Lahore to provide a roof to homeless people. Under the banner of ‘Panagah’ these shelters are to be temporary until permanent structures are built.
Until days ago, people were sleeping along almost all major intersections, markets, and bus and railway stations. However, now there is hope that the picture of the city will get better with this initiative which the PM himself has claimed is the “first step towards transforming Pakistan into a welfare state”.
Following the PM’s orders, the Punjab government has set up makeshift shelters at Data Darbar, Railway Station and Thokar Lorry Adda. There are tents functioning near the Railway Station, Thokar Niaz Baig and Sabzi Mandi. One tent can accommodate 30 to 70 homeless people or travellers who usually recline on the footpaths. They are provided free pillows, mattresses, comforters, and food, including breakfast and dinner.
Muhammad Rafiq, who hails from Faisalabad, spent a night at the shelter near railway station. He has a metal rod fitted in his arm due to an accident this year.
Talking to Pakistan Today, he said that he has slept at ‘very expensive’ hotels where one bug ridden bed cost him Rs70. In comparison to that, he is very satisfied by the facilities. “PM Imran has done a great thing for us. Something like this has never happened and hasn’t even been thought about,” he said.
Abdul Rehman belongs to Chakwal and frequently visits Lahore. Previously, he used to stay at the station because he couldn’t afford hotel rent and was at the mercy of policemen bullying him for money. Now, he lauds the initiative and plans to spend a night at the shelter.
Mohammad Fayaz, a social welfare officer who overlooks the morning shift at the shelter, said that 50 people stay there every day. “Some come back after their daily work, and we have security officers to keep a check on them by noting their NIC numbers in a register and inspecting luggage,” he said.
He warded off concerns that these shelters had a potential for becoming nests for drug addicts. “Addicts want privacy and are not very keen on coming to the shelter,” he added.
“There are more people at breakfast and dinner, while few actually stay after dinner. The carpeted tent is maintained with heaters, mattress, blankets and pillows and is cleaned at least twice a day,” he added.
There’s no arrangement yet for women and children at these shelters.
“Accommodations are being made for women and children in the concrete shelter being made a few paces away. LDA says it will complete it by January 20, 2019,” he revealed.
Another social welfare worker, Raza Sajid told Pakistan Today that there is no official instruction yet as to how long a person can stay. However, people must leave in the morning. They must also take their luggage with them.
“The number of people increase at meal time, even the railway travellers come to eat, along with daily wage workers. Soft boxes of food arrive. Extra food is sent back unopened.”
At the Thokar Niaz Baig shelter, Pakistan Today spoke to Farzand Ali who is a supervisor of the social welfare department. “There is accommodation here for 30 people. A mosque next to the shelter serves for lavatory facilities. A building is being built right next to it and is expected to become a permanent shelter within 40 days.”
However, he reiterated that women prefer not to take shelter at these Panagahs. Mostly, they are frequented by daily wage workers and food seekers.
Talking to Pakistan Today, Punjab Social Welfare and Baitul Maal Secretary Ambreen Raza said that shelters setup in tents are currently being managed by the Lahore Deputy Commissioner’s office.
“My department is only responsible for the permanent shelters. I have not been given any budget for the temporary ones, though I have provided for the staff that is giving duty there,” she said.
Raza said that five permanent structures being made near the temporary shelter tents should be ready by the end of January, adding that the largest shelter will be at Data Darbar which will have a capacity of lodging 250 people.
The remaining four shelters have the capacity of 125 persons, she added.
“The budget for these 5 permanent Panagahs is Rs383 million of which Rs335m have been allocated for construction while the remaining amount will be spent on buying furniture and other equipment,” she said.
The official said that currently her department is working on the SOPs [Standard Operating Procedures] i.e. “who we can keep there, how long they can stay there, and how to manage them”.
“We want to include the civil society in this project and have provided another channel for those organisations that are already doing social work. These donations are taken by the DC office,” she added.
On being asked why such an initiative had not been taken before, Raza said, “Every government has its own priorities. This is a decision by our current political leadership which we have implemented.”
She said that the Social Welfare Department is already managing different kinds of shelters. “We have old age homes and orphanages, along with shelters for lost and found children. We even have facilities for beggars who are rounded up etc. So we are already running shelters, but not like these, the credit of which goes to the political government,” she concluded.