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LAHORE, Oct 08 (APP): Punjab Minister for Minorities Affairs Ramesh Singh Arora has directed that all stages of Phase-II of the Minority Cards Program be completed by November 30 with full transparency and effective coordination among all departments.
He was chairing a meeting on the progress of the program at the Department of Minorities Affairs here on Wednesday.
The minister said that, on the special directions of Chief Minister Punjab Maryam Nawaz, the number of beneficiaries under the Minority Cards Program has been increased from 50,000 to 75,000, while further expansion of the initiative is under consideration. He emphasized that the program is of historic significance, aimed at ensuring social protection and economic empowerment of minority communities across Punjab.
During the briefing, it was informed that a total of 114,920 applications have been received for Phase-II.
The Punjab Information Technology Board (PITB) has forwarded the data to the Punjab Social Protection Authority (PSPA), which will verify it through NADRA and other relevant agencies before submitting it to the concerned Deputy Commissioners.
It was further shared that biometric verification of 46,441 beneficiaries under Phase-I has already been completed and facilitation of deserving minority families is continuing in a transparent manner.
The meeting was attended by Secretary Human Rights Fareed Ahmed Tarar, Deputy Secretary Ayesha Yaseen, and representatives of the Bank of Punjab, PITB, PSPA, and other relevant institutions.