LAHORE - Punjab government has decided to launch Punjab Khidmat Card programme from March 23rd for which formal approval was given by Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif at a high level meeting, here on Monday.
Under this programme, special assistance will be provided to extremely low-income people of the province through Punjab Khidmat Cards while health and educational facilities will also be extended through the card under a phased progrmme.
Former Federal Minister Shaukat Tareen, Advisor to Prime Minister Dr. Musadaq Malik, Provincial Ministers, Assembly Members, Chief Secretary, senior government officials and experts from private sector were also present in the meeting which also considered setting up of Social Protection Authority, expanding the scope of Qarz-e-Hasna Scheme, project of establishment of Rozgar Bank and launching of health insurance scheme.
Addressing the meeting, the chief minister said that the government was implementing various projects for improving the living standard of the people and providing them maximum relief. He said that government had also decided to launch Punjab Khidmat Cards for providing relief to the poorest of the poor segments of the society.
The chief minister said that all out resources will be provided for raising the living standard of the poor. He said that Punjab Khidmat Cards programme was a very important welfare project under which financial assistance will be provided to the extremely low income people. He said that the name and national identity card number of the head of the family will be engraved on Punjab Khidmat Card.  He said that Social Protection Authority will be set up to consolidate all welfare-oriented programmes of Punjab government.  Shahbaz said that the revolutionary programme of provision of interest-free loans under Chief Minister Self- Employment Scheme is continuing successfully and loans worth five billion rupees have so far been provided under this programme and more than 290,000 poor families have benefitted.