BAJAUR: The provincial government-sponsored two welfare initiatives, Roshan Mustaqbil Card and Sahara Card, aimed at supporting orphans and widows, were launched in Bajaur on Friday.

The schemes were inaugurated by additional deputy commissioner (general) Shahid Rafique Gandapur at a ceremony held in the district administration`s jirga hall by the local Zakat department.

Officials of the district Zakat department, members of the Zakat committee, representatives of the local PTI MPAs and a number of widows and orphans attended the ceremony.

The chairman of the district Zakat committee, Mehran Khan, while highlighting the purposes of both the schemes, informed the participants that the provincial government`s flagship initiatives were meant to provide financial support to widows and orphans.

`Through the Roshan Mustaqbil Card programme, orphan children aged 5 to 16 year will receive a monthly stipend of Rs 5,000, while under the Sahara Card initiative, widows aged 45 and above will receive Rs 5,000 per month,` Mr Mehran Khan added.Though he did not mention the exact number of beneficiaries, but claimed that scores of deserving people would benefit from both the schemes designed to financially help the needy segments of the society.

The ceremony was told that the payments would be disbursed to the beneficiaries, who have been selected through a transparent and merit-based process, regularly by the 5th of each month.

The additional deputy commissioner, Shahid Rafique Gandapur, while addressing the ceremony, said the provincial government was committed to the welfare of needy people in the society, adding that these schemes would greatly help alleviate their financial difficulties.

He directed the officials of the local Zakat and social welfare departments to strictly follow merit and transparency while selecting the deserving people.

Later, a number widows and orphans were provided with Sahara and Roshan Mustaqbil Cards.