ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: In a soft launch, Prime Minister Imran Khan on Wednesday broke the ground for the new model Panagahs being built in the Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) with improved standards and structure.
On the special instructions of the prime minister, the four new Panagahs are being built in Tarlai, Tarnol, G-9 and Mandi More areas of Islamabad adjacent to the existing facilities.
At the event, the prime minister also unveiled the final plans of these multistoried Panagahs to be constructed.
Prime Minister Imran Khan lauded Ehsaas team, Capital Development Authority (CDA), National College of Arts (NCA) Lahore, and all concerned for their collaborative efforts and instructed to ensure the speedy execution of new model Panagahs.
The prime minister underlined the importance of the provision of quality food and service at the Panagahs.
Imran Khan directed the concerned departments to provide Ehsaas services at the Panagahs and also emphasized upon providing skill development training at the Panagahs enabling the residents to become contributing citizens in the society.
The prime minister appreciated the collective efforts of the concerned departments and directed them to replicate the model in the provinces on the same line.
Earlier, the Special Assistant on Social Protection and Poverty Alleviation Senator Dr. Sania Nishtar briefed the prime minister on the Panagahs’ new strategic plan including construction, furnishing, governance, execution, digital monitoring, capacity building, and financing.
پناہ گاہوں کی از سر نو تعمیر کے نئے منصوبے کا افتتاح بدست وزیراعظم: 2/2
نئی ماڈل پناہ گاہوں کے اندرونی مناظر#Panagah #Ehsaas pic.twitter.com/9FBnlwY3FQ— Sania Nishtar (@SaniaNishtar) December 22, 2021
“In addition to ‘bed breakfast and meals’ facilities for labourers, these Panagahs will also have Ehsaas One Window Centers, to enable labourers and the underprivileged class to benefit from the government’s social welfare programs,., Dr. Sania Nistar.
The CDA has given land on concessional rates to the Poverty Alleviation and Social Safety Division for this purpose after the Cabinet’s approval.
The new model of Panagahs has been designed in collaboration with At the venue, samples of furniture and fixtures for new Panagahs to be used in model Panagahs were also displayed.
Earlier, Prime Minister Imran Khan also unveiled the plaque and the new model of Panagah.
To redesign the structure of model Panagah and furniture, Ehsaas has collaborated with NCA Lahore.
The new Panagah design incorporates the bigger kitchen, cold storage, reception, lobby, waiting areas, and an enhanced capacity to offer food and shelter to those in need.
To offer the best lodging and quality food to Panagah beneficiaries, Ehsaas and Serena Hotels are already collaborating.
In the first phase, staff and occupants of all Panagahs in Islamabad are being trained on hospitality, food safety and hygiene, health safety, and environment, and housekeeping, exercising regular monitoring of amenities.
So far, Ehsaas has opened 27 Panagahs in different areas of the Country including 5 in Sindh, 8 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 7 in Balochistan, 5 in Islamabad and 1 each in Gilgit-Baltistan and Punjab.
Under the umbrella of Ehsaas, Panagahs offer one star plus bed and breakfast facility with meals, essentials, hygiene, laundry, and security standards.
Each Panagah serves free meals to around 500 people and offers the 100-bed facility for overnight stay.
