Punjab govt increases monthly stipend for special persons

LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister (CM) Maryam Nawaz has increased the monthly stipend for deserving special persons to Rs7,500 from Rs6,000.

During a review meeting on the Chief Minister Himmat Card Project, CM Maryam Nawaz instructed the concerned authorities to pay monthly stipends to differently-abled people for three years in the first phase.

Furthermore, she added, “About 30,000 special people will get a monthly stipend of Rs7,500 for three years.”

Moreover, CM Punjab called for an awareness campaign for the provision of wheelchairs to deserving people. “Needy people can use the helpline of the Chief Minister’s Office at 0800-02345 to register themselves for the wheelchairs,” she said.

She said that special persons will also be given 14 types of assistive devices in the second phase.

The Chief Minister highlighted that wheelchairs, hearing aids, tricycles, Braille, and other devices will be provided to make the lives of special persons easier. She said subsidized public transport facilities and loans will also be given to special persons in a phased manner.

During the meeting, Senator Pervaiz Rashid, Senior Provincial Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb, and MPA Sania Ashiq were present. Other officials present during the meeting include Chief Secretary Zahid Akhtar Zaman, Principal Secretary to CM Sajid Zafar Dal, Secretary CM Office Danish Afzal, Secretary of Social Welfare, and other relevant officers.