Verification of special persons for Himmat Card starts in Punjab

LAHORE: The Punjab government has started the field verification of more than 400,000 registered special persons across the province for the issuance of “Himmat Card” for their financial assistance.

Reliable sources told “Jang” that the system of registration of special persons was launched by the Punjab government in 2022. According to the criteria issued by the government, a medical board’s certificate is prerequisite for recognising someone as special person. The Punjab government has provided online registration facility to the special persons, under which they can not only apply online for the medical board examination to get the disability certificate, but can also take an appointment date online.

Sources said that earlier the Punjab government had the data of 296,000 special people, but when the government sought applications for the Himmat card, more than one lakh people have submitted their data during the last two months.

Sources said that before the announcement of the Himmat Card by Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif, there was no package for special persons. The payment through “Himmat Card” will be made through the Bank of Punjab.

When contacted, Provincial Social Welfare Secretary Iqbal Hussain said that the proposal had been given for the poorest people whose monthly income was estimated at Rs23,192 and whose poverty score is 0-26. “It was suggested that if we start giving 10 to 15 percent of their income, it will have positive effects. It was also suggested that at least Rs2,000 should be paid per month, but later it was decided that poor people should be paid Rs7,500 quarterly. The government plans to give more aid but it will depend on the situation,” he added.

He said that the Punjab government had the data of more than 400,000 special persons, whose field verification has been started. He said that on the direction of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif, a new Rs400m Disability Aid programme was being launched under which wheelchairs and hearing aids worth Rs400m would be provide to special people. He said that Rs2 billion had already been sanctioned to help poor people through the “Himmat Card”.