Lahore: as an expansion to the Qarz-i-Hasna Scheme, a Rozgar Bank and a health insurance scheme will be introduced to help the needy, informed the Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif while announcing the launch of the ‘Khidmat card’.
The Khidmat card will allow the holder to get an Rs 500 allowance monthly initially, which will be increased to Rs 1000 per month. It is mandatory for the card holder to enrol one of their children in a primary school, otherwise he will not be deemed eligible.
The card holder will be given health insurance and a national identity card in the next stage. The insurance scheme will be launched in Chakwal, Hafizabad, Layyah and Rajanpur initially. A social protection authority would be set up to consolidate all welfare-oriented programmes of the government.
A committee to submit the final recommendations on the Punjab Rozgar Bank will be formed on the orders of the Chief Minister, headed by the provincial finance minister. This will give the programme on interest free loans an organizational form.
A briefing on the health insurance scheme and Rozgar bank was given by the advisor to the Prime Minister, Dr Musadaq Malik, while details on the ‘Punjab Khidmat card’ were given by the food director.