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Business Recorder
04-05-2025
- Politics
- Business Recorder
PTI protests outside ECP office
PESHAWAR: The workers of Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf (PTI) staged a protest outside the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) in Peshawar against the stealing of the mandate of the party on February 8, 2024. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Minister for Social Welfare, Syed Qasim Ali Shah led the protest. During his speech at the protest, the provincial minister stated that alleged rigging was carried out in Form 47 on February 8, stealing PTI's public mandate. He demanded that the injustice be rectified and the rightful mandate of Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf be restored. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Express Tribune
22-03-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
Zamung Kor, Panagahs to get budget boost
Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Khan Gandapur has directed that the operational costs of the province's key social welfare initiatives, Zamung Kor (Model Institute for State Children) and Panagahs (Shelter Houses), be incorporated into the regular provincial budget to ensure their long-term sustainability. He emphasized that running such programs through grant-in-aid is not a viable solution. These directives were issued during a high-level meeting on the affairs of Zamung Kor and Panagah projects. The meeting was attended by provincial cabinet members Syed Qasim Ali Shah and Muzammil Aslam, Additional Chief Secretary Planning and Development Ikramullah Khan, and senior officials from relevant departments. During the meeting, it was decided in principle to establish additional Zamung Kor centers across various districts and to set up a separate Zamung Kor center for girls in Peshawar. Furthermore, projects for Zamung Kor centers in the Malakand and Hazara divisions will be included in the upcoming Annual Development Program. The meeting also approved the arrangement for a permanent building for the Zamung Kor center currently operating in a rented facility in Dera Ismail Khan. Additionally, it was agreed to recruit permanent staff for Zamung Kor centers and to upgrade existing Panagahs across different regions of the province. The Chief Minister instructed officials to address shortcomings in the Panagahs and ensure they are upgraded to state-of-the-art facilities in the next budget cycle. Expressing displeasure over the non-payment of salaries to Panagah staff, he ordered the immediate disbursement of pending wages. Background It may be recalled that in 2019, then-Chief Minister Mahmood Khan approved the opening of Zamung Kor campuses in Abbottabad, Swat, and DI Khan. He also sanctioned the establishment of a Zamung Kor campus for female children in Peshawar and directed authorities to acquire land and buildings for this purpose. During discussions on the extension of Zamung Kor, the Chief Minister met with a delegation from Azad Foundation UK at the Chief Minister's House in Peshawar. The foundation provided a detailed presentation on the rehabilitation of street children, including their education and integration into society. One notable success story highlighted in the meeting was a former street child who became a prominent player in the Pakistan Premier Football League in Karachi. The meeting also reviewed previous decisions of the PTI government regarding social protection for street children, relevant legislation, and proposed guidelines for supporting vulnerable children, beggars, and child laborers through geo-mapping data collection.
Express Tribune
11-03-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
Gandapur enunciates women uplift projects
Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Khan Gandapur launched Gender Parity Report 2024 at the Chief Minister's House on Tuesday in connection with International Women's Day. The event, organized by the Provincial Commission on the Status of Women, was attended by Minister for Social Welfare Syed Qasim Ali Shah, K-P Assembly Deputy Speaker Suraiya Bibi, officials from Social Welfare Department, and large number of women from various walks of life. The Gender Parity Report 2024 is a comprehensive data-driven document that highlights gender equality trends in the province, providing insights into access to services, socio-economic participation, and political representation of men and women. The report aims to serve as a guiding document for stakeholders working towards gender equality. Speaking at the ceremony, Chief Minister Gandapur emphasized the importance of accurate data for policymaking and decision-making, and commended the officials involved in compiling the report, stating that no developmental initiative can succeed without reliable data. He assured that the issues identified in the report would be addressed on a priority basis, and after endorsement by the provincial assembly, it would be shared with the federal government to encourage nationwide efforts for gender equality. The K-P CM reaffirmed his government's commitment to women's participation in economic and social programs, particularly through the Ehsaas Youth Employment and Ehsaas Skills Development initiatives. He said that women, who make up more than half of the country's population, are key to national progress and that protecting the rights of women and marginalized groups is essential for prosperity. Highlighting efforts in girls' education, he remarked that the provincial government had established 2,800 Girls' Community Schools, providing education to thousands of girls. Additionally, a voucher scheme had been launched to enroll out-of-school girls, while scholarships and stipends were being provided to reduce the dropout rate in government schools. Ali Amin Gandapur pointed out that the government had set up Women Police Desks in police stations and established Gender-Based Violence (GBV) Courts across the province to improve women's safety and access to justice. He said special open forums (Khuli Kacheris) are being organized under the Public Agenda Program to address women's issues on a priority basis. The K-P CM said the provincial government has launched Sahara Card Program, which provides a monthly stipend of Rs10,000 to widows aged 45 and above. Additionally, the government is facilitating women's inheritance rights, ensuring they receive their legal share of property.
Express Tribune
06-03-2025
- Health
- Express Tribune
Third phase of Drug-Free Peshawar begins
The Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa government has launched the third phase of Drug Free Peshawar drive. Provincial Minister for Social Welfare, Syed Qasim Ali Shah, has said that under the leadership of Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur, the current government has launched the 'Drug-Free Peshawar Phase Three' campaign in order to rehabilitate drug addicts. As part of the initiative, 2,000 individuals are being provided free treatment, and concrete measures will be taken to curb drug addiction. He expressed these views during a surprise visit to the Khwaja Yunus Social Welfare Organization Center. The provincial minister conducted a detailed review of the center, met staff and drug-addicted individuals, and inquired about the treatment facilities and rehabilitation measures provided by the government.
Express Tribune
27-02-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
K-P launches orphan, widow support cards
The Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa government has taken another revolutionary step towards the welfare of underprivileged and deserving segments of society by launching two major financial assistance programs — Roshan Mustaqbil Card for orphaned children and Sahara Card for widows. In this regard, a ceremony was held on Thursday at the Chief Minister's House Peshawar, where Chief Minister Ali Amin Khan Gandapur formally inaugurated these programs. The event was attended by Provincial Minister Syed Qasim Ali Shah, Secretary Social Welfare Department Syed Nazar Hussain Shah, and other relevant officials, as well as orphan children and widows. Under the Roshan Mustaqbil Card, orphaned children up to the age of 16 years were initially set to receive a monthly stipend of Rs5,000. However, in a generous move, Chief Minister Ali Amin Khan Gandapur announced doubling this amount. Priority in this program will be given to children who have lost both parents. In its initial phase, approximately 9,000 orphaned children will benefit from this initiative. Similarly, the Sahara Card was designed to provide financial assistance to widows aged 45 years and above, offering a monthly stipend of Rs5,000. However, the chief minister announced an increase in this amount as well, raising it to Rs10,000 per month. Through this program, a total of 15,000 widows will receive financial support. The funds under both programs will be disbursed by the 5th of each month through designated cards issued to the beneficiaries. An IT-based scoring system will be employed to screen and select eligible applicants, ensuring transparency and fairness in the distribution process. While addressing the ceremony, Chief Minister Gandapur emphasized that PTI leadership is committed to establishing a welfare state, where the well-being of vulnerable segments of society is a top priority. He stated that caring for the underprivileged is a fundamental duty of a welfare state and that his government is working tirelessly to fulfill this responsibility. "Those who think about the well-being of others are truly great people," the chief minister remarked, highlighting that the welfare of marginalized communities remains one of his government's foremost priorities. He revealed that as soon as his government took office, a comprehensive data collection initiative was launched to identify and register deserving individuals. Based on this data, various welfare programs are now being introduced. "One of our first steps was to double the Zakat fund to ensure that maximum beneficiaries could receive assistance," he added.
