Zardari announces new welfare scheme for women

By Tahir Hasan Khan

KARACHI: The PPP-led government has announced another welfare scheme, the Benazir Behan Basti Programme (BBBP), for poor women.

President Asif Ali Zardari announced this new scheme in a meeting with Sindh government officials at the Bilawal House here on Monday. The meeting was attended by Sindh Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah, Governor Ishratul Ebad, provincial ministers Pir Mazharul Haq, Dr Zulfikar Mirza, Agha Siraj Durrani, Murad Ali Shah, Manzoor Wasan, Ali Nawaz Shah, Jam Mehtab Dahar, Ayaz Soomro and Shazia Marri.

Zardari directed the provincial authorities to launch the programme from Sindh. Under the new scheme, poor women holding Benazir Income Support Programme cards will be given land by the government. Financial assistance would be sought from the Friends of Democratic Pakistan Forum for this scheme.

The meeting also focused on providing housing facilities to police personnel. Various development programmes for Lyari were also reviewed and the president asked the authorities to make functional the Cardiovascular Unit in the Lyari General Hospital.

Governor Dr Ishratul Ebad and CM Syed Qaim Ali Shah informed the president that an area of one thousand acres will be vacated on the Maripur Road. The president said the vacated land should be used for the construction of the Lyari University.

In a separate meeting with Governor Dr Ishratul Ebad and Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah, the president emphasised the need for all political parties to work together. He also directed that all coalition partners should be taken into confidence on major decisions.
Source: The News
Date:9/1/2009