Minister asks officials to facilitate women lodged at hostel

PESHAWAR: Minister for Social Welfare Dr Hisham Inamullah has instructed the relevant officials to address the problems of the inmates lodged at the Working Women Hostel in Hayatabad here.

He said the women living in the hostel would have to pay their arrears so that the hostel could be run smoothly. The minister took notice of the statements published in the newspapers regarding the Working Women Hostel in Hayatabad.

He directed the Social Welfare Department to resolve all the grievances. Habib Afridi, Director, Department of Social Welfare, said that after the approval of the cabinet, they came up with SOPs to run the hostel. The room rent is fixed for government employees and every room is allotted to two girls, he said.

He said that accommodation has been arranged but most of the women living in hostels occupy the same room and do not pay the rent in full.

Those who used air-conditioners in rooms have to pay for it but most of the women have refused to do so, he alleged. According to the director Social Welfare, in such cases, the hostel management was burdened with extra expenses in case of unnecessary bills.

The hostel is set up for the convenience of women. However, this facility is being wasted due to the wrong attitude. When the administration informs the female tenants of their mistake, the issue is presented negatively in the media.

The director said the department was working for uninterrupted supply of electricity in the hostel but the women living there would have to cooperate with the department by improving their behaviour.

Hisham Inamullah said the people should cooperate with the government for taking steps for their welfare and convenience.

Meanwhile, inmates of the working women hostel claimed that they regularly paid the bills and there was hardly any defaulter.

“We have our receipts. If there is any defaulter, why don’t they take action against them? We pay them Rs10,000 per month for running the air-conditioner but they do not provide any receipt for that,” said one inmate of the hostel.