• Help desk to be set up in investment board to facilitate health professionals
• PM inaugurates work on new model shelter homes

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan on Wednesday announced that the Association of Physicians of Pakistani-descent of North America (APPNA) would be given representation in the National Task Force on Health.

The task force is led by the prime minister himself.

Mr Khan also directed that a help desk be established in the Board of Investment to facilitate health professionals.

He issued these directives during a meeting with an APPNA delegation, led by Dr Rizwan Khalid. Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Health Dr Faisal Sultan was also present on the occasion.

PM Khan appreciated the contribution of the APPNA in America’s health sector and suggested that the association play its role in bringing investment to Pakistan for the betterment of the health sector.

The delegation’s members appreciated the government’s strategy to control the Covid-19 pandemic as well as the decisions to give voting right and online system for power of attorney to overseas Pakistanis.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Khan on Wednesday inaugurated construction work on new model shelter homes (Panagahs) that would provide lodging and meals to the shelterless people and daily-wage earners. He also issued special directives to ensure quality structures with all facilities at the shelter homes.

Unveiling the final plans of multi-storey Panagahs to be built in the federal capital, the prime minister lauded the Ehsaas team, Capital Development Authority, National College of Arts (NCA) and all those concerned for their collaborative efforts.

He underlined the importance of providing quality food and service at Panagahs and asked the relevant departments to provide Ehsaas services at the shelter homes.

He also emphasised the need for providing skill development training to enable the Panagah residents to become contributing citizens to society.

The prime minister appreciated the collective efforts of the departments concerned and directed them to replicate the model in the provinces.

Earlier, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Poverty Alleviation Dr Sania Nishtar briefed the prime minister on the Panagahs’ new strategic plan, including construction, furnishing, governance, execution, digital monitoring, capacity building and financing.

“In addition to ‘bed, breakfast and meals’, these shelter homes will also have Ehsaas one-window centres to enable labourers and the underprivileged class to benefit from the government’s social welfare programmes,” Dr Nishtar said.

The CDA provided land at concessional rates to the Poverty Alleviation and Social Safety Division for the purpose after the cabinet’s approval. The new Panagahs are being built in Tarlai, Tarnol, G-9 and Mandi Mor areas of Islamabad.

Ehsaas has collaborated with the NCA Lahore to redesign the structure of model Panagahs and furniture.

The new design of Panagahs incorporates bigger kitchen, cold storage, reception, lobby, waiting areas and enhanced capacity to offer food and shelter to those in need. Serena Hotels are also collaborating with Ehsaas to ensure best lodging and quality food to the Panagah beneficiaries.

In the first phase, the staff of all Panagahs in Islamabad is being trained on hospitality, food safety, hygiene, health safety, environment, housekeeping, exercising and regular monitoring of amenities.

So far, Ehsaas has opened 27 Panagahs in different areas of the country, with five in Sindh, eight in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, seven in Balochistan, five in Islamabad and one each in Gilgit-Baltistan and Punjab.

Under the umbrella of Ehsaas, these Panagahs offer one star plus bed and breakfast facility with meals, essentials, hygiene, laundry and security standards.

Published in Dawn, December 23rd, 2021