TİKA Built a Homeless Shelter in Pakistan

The “Homeless Shelter” (Panahgah), which Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA) started to build in October last year in order to provide free accommodation to those in need in the country, was put into service.

The opening ceremony held in the town of Tarnol in the capital, Islamabad, was attended by Imran Khan, Prime Minister of Pakistan; İhsan Mustafa Yurdakul, Turkey’s Ambassador to Islamabad; Gökhan Umut, TİKA’s Pakistan Coordinator; and many high-ranking officials.

Khan visited the Panahgah and received information from Turkish officials. In his statement here, Khan noted that they always felt Turkey’s support.

Sania Nishtar, Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Poverty Alleviation and Social Protection, stated that the Panahgah would remain an important symbol of the friendly relations between the two countries.

In his statement, Turkey’s Ambassador to Islamabad Yurdakul said, “We are gathered here today for the opening ceremony of a new and very beneficial project by TİKA. I also attended the groundbreaking ceremony, which was held 40 to 45 days ago. It is a praiseworthy achievement that TİKA implemented and completed this project with Bait-ul-Mal, a government agency, in record time.”

Stressing that they were proud of the project carried out by TİKA, Yurdakul said, “We will be happy if we, as Turkey, TİKA, and the Embassy, can contribute to the development of Pakistan and its fight against poverty even a little.”

TİKA’s Pakistan Coordinator Umut pointed out the fact that the Panahgah project was implemented for the homeless, and said, “The Panahgah was designed as a facility for those who do not have a home, who have nowhere to stay, or who have to spend the night outside. From now on, they may spend the night, have breakfast in the morning, have dinner the next evening, if necessary, and leave.” Reminding that the project was launched by Prime Minister Khan, Umut said, “Therefore, we built this Panahgah in close cooperation with the Office of the Prime Minister of Pakistan and Bait-ul-Mal, an executive agency in Pakistan.” Stating that 100 people can be accommodated and more than 400 people will be served breakfast and dinner each day in the Panahgah, Umut continued, “As TİKA, we carry out various activities in different sectors in the fields of education, health, and vocational training. We are very happy to carry out such projects that touch social life. We are planning similar projects for 2021. We want to implement these projects in various regions in Pakistan.”