Chief Minister Punjab Shahbaz Sharif announced launch of “Khidmat Card”. He said that as an expansion of Qarza-e-Hasana scheme, a health insurance scheme and Rozgar bank will be introduced that will concentrate on helping the needy.
“Khidmat Card” holder will be able to get a monthly allowance of Rupees 500 in the start and the allowance will be increased gradually to 1000 Rupees per month. In order to be eligible for the Khidmat Card, the applicant must enroll one of his children in a primary school otherwise he will not be considered as eligible.
In the next stage the Khidmat Card holder will be provided with a health insurance and national identity card. Initially the insurance scheme will be initiated in backward and poverty-struck areas of Punjab like Chakwal, Hafizabad, Layyah and Rajanpur. It is important to know that Rajanpur is considered the most poverty-struck area in the whole Punjab. A social protection authority is entitled to set up all these welfare programs of Punjab government.
It is expected that soon a committee that will submit its final recommendations about the Punjab Rozgar Bank will be formed by the orders of Punjab CM. Provincial finance minister will be the head of this committee. This way this program will take an organizational form for providing interest free loans.
A briefing was given to the Prime Minister by his advisor Dr. Musadaq Malik on health insurance scheme and Rozgar Bank scheme. Food director provided the details to the Prime Minister regarding the “Punjab Khidmat Card” scheme.
