LAHORE: Provincial Minister for Labour and Manpower Raja Ashfaq Sarwar has termed the Punjab government’s Rs2 billion worth of “Khidmat Card Programme” for special persons a revolutionary step.
Addressing a special awareness seminar on “Punjab Khidmat Card Programme” held in auditorium of Rawalpindi Arts Council, he said that under this programme financial assistance would be provided to disabled persons with a view to rehabilitate them and in the second phase technical training and interest free loans would also be provided to special persons, says a handout issued here.
The minister said that all segments of society, especially media and affluent people should also come forward to contribute in welfare of special persons. He disclosed that 200,000 persons would be benefited from this historic step of the Punjab government.
Raja Ashfaq Sarwar said under Khidmat Card Programme, Rs 3600 were being provided to each disabled person as financial assistance on quarterly basis which they could obtain through Punjab Bank or ATM Card issued to registered special persons.
The minister added that in first Phase, the special persons who were registered under Benazir Income Support Programme had been included, while the registration of all remaining disabled persons was also under process.
“Chief Minister Punjab Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif believes in politics of serving the people and Khidmat Card Programme has been initiated with the intension to provide relief to special persons and enabling them to become at par with normal people”, he added.