Lahore: An important meeting was held under the chairmanship of Provincial Minister for Social Welfare and Bait-ul-Maal Sohail Shaukat Butt, with Director General Social Welfare Dr. Shehnshah Faisal Azeem and other senior officials in attendance, to review the performance of NGOs, Bait-ul-Maal, Sanatzars, and various ongoing welfare programs. The meeting also assessed the progress of Chief Minister Punjab Maryam Nawaz Sharif’s flagship welfare initiatives, including the Dhee Rani Programme and the Himmat Card Programme.

According to Directorate General Public Relation – Govt of Punjab, the meeting was informed that 4,962 collective marriages have been arranged under the Dhee Rani Programme during the financial year 2025-26. Under the Himmat Card Programme, 100,000 deserving persons have been provided Himmat Cards, while 18,833 assistive devices have been distributed among persons with disabilities. Provincial Minister Sohail Shaukat Butt emphasized the need for accelerating work on all welfare initiatives and ensuring transparent delivery of services to deserving citizens.

The minister directed officials to enhance the pace and quality of welfare projects and ensure benefits reach deserving citizens in a timely manner. Special attention was urged for welfare programs targeting women, children, and persons with disabilities. Efforts are being intensified to modernize Sanatzars and expand economic opportunities for women, including linking them with e-commerce platforms for better marketing and financial independence.

Sohail Shaukat Butt also directed improvements in Sanatzars through modern machinery, better production techniques, and effective marketing strategies to create employment and income-generating opportunities for women. Effective monitoring of all welfare initiatives was stressed to ensure transparent use of public funds and timely delivery of services to beneficiaries.