Latest news with #SyedQasimAliShah
Express Tribune
6 days ago
- Business
- Express Tribune
K-P provincial budget lauded
Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa's Minister for Social Welfare, Zakat, Ushr and Special Education, Syed Qasim Ali Shah, has termed the provincial budget for 2025-26 as people-friendly and surplus, stating that the provision of facilities to the public has been given top priority. He said that it is a balanced budget in which comprehensive measures have been proposed for the improvement and development of all sectors. He expressed these views in a press statement. He further said that the budget allocated for the departments of Zakat, Ushr, Social Welfare, and Special Education has increased by 135%, bringing the allocation to Rs19.11 billion. The government has also outlined major projects for special children. Under a key project, centers for children affected by autism will be established at the divisional level at a cost of Rs1.2 billion. Similarly, five new campuses of the "Zamung Kor" institution are being set up for the care and upbringing of orphaned and underprivileged children, with Rs600 million allocated for this initiative.
Business Recorder
04-05-2025
- Politics
- Business Recorder
PTI protests outside ECP office
PESHAWAR: The workers of Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf (PTI) staged a protest outside the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) in Peshawar against the stealing of the mandate of the party on February 8, 2024. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Minister for Social Welfare, Syed Qasim Ali Shah led the protest. During his speech at the protest, the provincial minister stated that alleged rigging was carried out in Form 47 on February 8, stealing PTI's public mandate. He demanded that the injustice be rectified and the rightful mandate of Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf be restored. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Express Tribune
22-03-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
Zamung Kor, Panagahs to get budget boost
Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Khan Gandapur has directed that the operational costs of the province's key social welfare initiatives, Zamung Kor (Model Institute for State Children) and Panagahs (Shelter Houses), be incorporated into the regular provincial budget to ensure their long-term sustainability. He emphasized that running such programs through grant-in-aid is not a viable solution. These directives were issued during a high-level meeting on the affairs of Zamung Kor and Panagah projects. The meeting was attended by provincial cabinet members Syed Qasim Ali Shah and Muzammil Aslam, Additional Chief Secretary Planning and Development Ikramullah Khan, and senior officials from relevant departments. During the meeting, it was decided in principle to establish additional Zamung Kor centers across various districts and to set up a separate Zamung Kor center for girls in Peshawar. Furthermore, projects for Zamung Kor centers in the Malakand and Hazara divisions will be included in the upcoming Annual Development Program. The meeting also approved the arrangement for a permanent building for the Zamung Kor center currently operating in a rented facility in Dera Ismail Khan. Additionally, it was agreed to recruit permanent staff for Zamung Kor centers and to upgrade existing Panagahs across different regions of the province. The Chief Minister instructed officials to address shortcomings in the Panagahs and ensure they are upgraded to state-of-the-art facilities in the next budget cycle. Expressing displeasure over the non-payment of salaries to Panagah staff, he ordered the immediate disbursement of pending wages. Background It may be recalled that in 2019, then-Chief Minister Mahmood Khan approved the opening of Zamung Kor campuses in Abbottabad, Swat, and DI Khan. He also sanctioned the establishment of a Zamung Kor campus for female children in Peshawar and directed authorities to acquire land and buildings for this purpose. During discussions on the extension of Zamung Kor, the Chief Minister met with a delegation from Azad Foundation UK at the Chief Minister's House in Peshawar. The foundation provided a detailed presentation on the rehabilitation of street children, including their education and integration into society. One notable success story highlighted in the meeting was a former street child who became a prominent player in the Pakistan Premier Football League in Karachi. The meeting also reviewed previous decisions of the PTI government regarding social protection for street children, relevant legislation, and proposed guidelines for supporting vulnerable children, beggars, and child laborers through geo-mapping data collection.
Express Tribune
11-03-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
Gandapur enunciates women uplift projects
Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Khan Gandapur launched Gender Parity Report 2024 at the Chief Minister's House on Tuesday in connection with International Women's Day. The event, organized by the Provincial Commission on the Status of Women, was attended by Minister for Social Welfare Syed Qasim Ali Shah, K-P Assembly Deputy Speaker Suraiya Bibi, officials from Social Welfare Department, and large number of women from various walks of life. The Gender Parity Report 2024 is a comprehensive data-driven document that highlights gender equality trends in the province, providing insights into access to services, socio-economic participation, and political representation of men and women. The report aims to serve as a guiding document for stakeholders working towards gender equality. Speaking at the ceremony, Chief Minister Gandapur emphasized the importance of accurate data for policymaking and decision-making, and commended the officials involved in compiling the report, stating that no developmental initiative can succeed without reliable data. He assured that the issues identified in the report would be addressed on a priority basis, and after endorsement by the provincial assembly, it would be shared with the federal government to encourage nationwide efforts for gender equality. The K-P CM reaffirmed his government's commitment to women's participation in economic and social programs, particularly through the Ehsaas Youth Employment and Ehsaas Skills Development initiatives. He said that women, who make up more than half of the country's population, are key to national progress and that protecting the rights of women and marginalized groups is essential for prosperity. Highlighting efforts in girls' education, he remarked that the provincial government had established 2,800 Girls' Community Schools, providing education to thousands of girls. Additionally, a voucher scheme had been launched to enroll out-of-school girls, while scholarships and stipends were being provided to reduce the dropout rate in government schools. Ali Amin Gandapur pointed out that the government had set up Women Police Desks in police stations and established Gender-Based Violence (GBV) Courts across the province to improve women's safety and access to justice. He said special open forums (Khuli Kacheris) are being organized under the Public Agenda Program to address women's issues on a priority basis. The K-P CM said the provincial government has launched Sahara Card Program, which provides a monthly stipend of Rs10,000 to widows aged 45 and above. Additionally, the government is facilitating women's inheritance rights, ensuring they receive their legal share of property.
Express Tribune
06-03-2025
- Health
- Express Tribune
Third phase of Drug-Free Peshawar begins
The Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa government has launched the third phase of Drug Free Peshawar drive. Provincial Minister for Social Welfare, Syed Qasim Ali Shah, has said that under the leadership of Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur, the current government has launched the 'Drug-Free Peshawar Phase Three' campaign in order to rehabilitate drug addicts. As part of the initiative, 2,000 individuals are being provided free treatment, and concrete measures will be taken to curb drug addiction. He expressed these views during a surprise visit to the Khwaja Yunus Social Welfare Organization Center. The provincial minister conducted a detailed review of the center, met staff and drug-addicted individuals, and inquired about the treatment facilities and rehabilitation measures provided by the government.
