Daily Times

LAHORE: The Social Protection Policy drafted by the Punjab Social Protection Authority (PSPA) is still awaiting approval.

The draft of the policy is pending with the Punjab Planning and Development Department, which claims that it has forwarded the draft to the Chief Minister’s Office, Daily Times has learnt reliably.

It was revealed that the policy was drafted on March 5, 2017 and was sent to the Planning and Development Department of Punjab by the PSPA for approval.

The PSPA was established in 2015 with an aim to provide a comprehensive, efficient, effective and inclusive social protection system for the poor and vulnerable in Punjab but it seemed that the welfare of the poor and the underprivileged was not on the priority list of the authorities concerned.

The draft policy, a copy of which is available with Daily Times, is aimed at creating a society whose members enjoy a quality life, pursue their personal, social and economic development, and ensuring that all citizens ordinarily residing in Punjab have a secure livelihood and access to suitable social protection interventions to protect them from falling below a socially acceptable living standard.

The draft also represents the government’s renewed commitment to reform, streamline and broaden the social policy regime in Punjab. Furthermore, the policy is also aimed at harnessing the positive momentum in developing policy environment post-18 Amendment, seeking to eliminate poverty and deprivation to reduce vulnerability and marginalisation.

When contacted, PSPA General Manager (Social Policy) Kashif Saeed was of the view that they had sent the policy to the department concerned. Giving more details, he said, “While this policy sets the course and provides a strategic direction and actionable plans, its effectiveness in achieving its desired goals and objectives will depend on how it is operationalised.

“Continued support, oversight and follow-up at the highest level should be there to ensure that the policy is implemented as envisioned. The policy will be periodically reassessed to reflect the government’s response to emerging situations, changing environment, technological advances, and/or opportunities for regional and international collaboration. Thus, as a living document, the government will review the social protection policy periodically and update it as appropriate, following a similarly consultative and thorough process as its development.”

Kashif Saeed said that according to the draft of policy, the overarching and inter-related five objectives of the policy included equity, resilience, opportunity, gender equality and social cohesion. As per the policy, the objectives could be best achieved by specifically addressing key six challenges, including child health and nutritional outcomes, employment opportunities for the youth, gender discrimination, discouraging migrants who take risks and seek overseas employment and making sure that elderly and the disabled have access to basic care and income support.

Shazia Mudassir, assistant chief at the Punjab Planning and Development Department, said: “The ball is in the court of the Chief Minister’s Office as we have completed our work.

“Approval of policy is time taking as it has a different approval process. We will involve all the stakeholders and government departments in this process who then give their suggestions for improving the policy. Once this policy is approved we will disseminate it to all departments, provinces and our donor agencies,” she avered.

To a question, Shazia said that the interim government had all the administrative rights and could approve the policy.

Published in Daily Times, June 14^th 2018.