Law to discourage professional beggars in the offing in KP

The provincial government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has drafted legislative bill to guarantee social security of beggars and discourage professional beggars through taking action against them. This was informed during a progress review meeting of social welfare department here at Chief Minister's House Peshawar on Wednesday. Besides, Principal Secretary to CM Shahab Ali Shah, the Secretary Social Welfare and other related authorities attended the meeting.

The meeting was briefed in details about the measures regarding social security of beggars and action against professional beggars and told that Vagrancy Bill has been prepared and submitted to Provincial Assembly for approval. The chief minister directed action against professional beggars through district governments after the enactment of proposed law. Expansion of Zamung Kor (Model Institute for State Children) to divisional headquarters is also under process. PC-1 of non ADP scheme is ready in this respect.

The meeting was told that eight priority projects initiated under the Social Welfare Department adding that eight shelter homes have been established in different divisional headquarters of the province while establishment of shelter home in Wana and Khyber is in progress for which additional resources have been requested from federal government through P&D department.

Speaking in the meeting the Chief Minister directed the concerned District Administrations to take immediate measures for identification and acquisition of required land for the establishment of social welfare complexes in newly merged Tribal Districts further directing that livelihood opportunities and resources should also be provided to the special people of Tribal Districts. He urged the need for all time activation and supervision of Panahgahs (Shelter homes) in Peshawar and all the divisional headquarters in order to further improve their performance with the passage of time.

He also agreed with the specimen of senior citizens card designed for the provision of incentives to Senior Citizens in the province and directed that rules under the relevant law should also be devised so that provision of proposed incentives to the senior citizens could be ensured in best manner. He indicated that Vagrancy Act for the social security measures for beggars and action against professional beggars would also be approved in the upcoming session of provincial assembly.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2019