PBM to establish 50 new WECs by March 2020: MD

ISLAMABAD, Oct 24 (APP):Pakistan Bait-ul-Mal (PBM) finalized a plan to establish 50 new Women Empowerment Centres (WECs) in far flung areas of the country by March 2020 to increase household income, improve standard of living and making them self sufficient, said Managing Director Aon Abbas Buppi on Thursday.

Talking to media persons, he said the number of WECs would be enhanced from existing 157 to 350 in the next four years. A total of 200,00 poor women would be imparted training in these centres in the next four years.

The new centres would impart advance training in far flung areas including erstwhile Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA), Gilgit-Baltistan, Tharparkar, etc.

The trained women would be granted interest free loans in collaboration with Pakistan Poverty Alleviation Fund (PPAF). The women would be imparted courses of local based skills in collaboration with Technical Education and Vocational Training Authority (TEVTA).

The women trainees would be given Rs 10,000 stipend during the training.
Likewise, he said the first orphanage of girl children would be opened in last week of November this year in Islamabad. A total of 50 orphan girls 50 each from Parachanar and Dera Bugti have already been registered for admission in new girls Dar-ul-Ehsas.

He said an old home accommodating 50 abandoned senior citizens would be established in Islamabad. In the old home, a community centre would be set up for 500 abandoned senior citizen. The elderly persons will come to community centre daily at 9 am and interact with the inmates and deliver lectures for enhancing mental capacity. The Old Homes would gradually be established in all bid cities of the country.

He said the PBM has collected donations of Rs 150 million for conducting cochlear implant of deaf and dumb children. One such operation costs Rs 1.2 million each. As many as 200 such children have already registered for operation. While the operation of five deaf and dumb children have so far been conducted.

He said due to increased trust and credibility of Prime Minister Imran Khan, PBM has started receiving donations and charity.

Responding to a question, he said the budget of PBM was Rs 5.6 billion per annum including 22 percent administrative cost. The PBM this year has reduced 17 percent Petroleum Oil Lubricants (POL) bills and 30 percent reduction in other bills.