ISLAMABAD -Samina Khalid Ghurki, Minster for Social Welfare & Special Education visited Pakistan Baitul Mal Head Office, Islamabad here on Monday. The Federal Secretary Ministry of Social Welfare & Special Education G.M Skindar, Managing Director Pakistan Baitul Mal, Zammurad Khan and Senior Officials welcomed her. MD Pakistan Baitul Mal gave a detail briefing to Federal Minister regarding various poverty alleviation projects and schemes being run by Pakistan Bait ul Mal. The Federal Minister was briefed that the annual budget of Food Support Programme is Rs. 6 billion with coverage of 2 million households. Since its inception an amount of Rs. 23.838 billion has been disbursed for benefiting 1.46 million households countrywide. Through Individual Financial Assistance (IFA), the poor, widows, destitute women, orphans and disabled persons are supported for medical treatment, education, rehabilitation and general assistance. Currently, PBM is addressing 40,000 deserving beneficiaries annually throughout the country. The Managing Director PBM also briefed the Federal Minister about Dastkari and Vocational Training Schools in which free training to the widows, orphans and poor girls in skills like cutting, drafting, tailoring, hand embroidery machine embroidery etc. At present 141 vocational training centres are operational from which 8339 students are enrolled and 151 National Centres for Rehabilitation of child labours of PBM are operational in the country and at present 17152 students are enrolled. MD PBM told that the present management has started work for boosting up the social welfare activities of Pakistan Bait ul Mal in addition to existing services in different rehabilitation fields. He informed the Minister that PBM has recently joint venture with Zia Siddique Foundation for technical training of poor people. Federal Minister was also informed disabled persons has been declare as Special Friends of the PBM. Under this scheme, PBM is providing Wheel Chairs, Hearing Aids, White Canes, Artificial Limbs and Financial Assistance to them on priority basis. In this regard, a Park at F-9 Sector of Islamabad for the amusement & welfare of the disabled persons has been activated. The Federal Minister expressed her satisfaction over the working of Pakistan Bait-ul-Mal and assured to extend her full support in government's resolve to eradicate poverty from the country. She emphasised the need to facilitate access of the poorest of the poor to the Pakistan Baitul .Mal. The Minister for Social Welfare & Special Education advised that government organization/ institutions should play their due role in the development of the country and welfare of common people. Minister highly appreciated the efforts made by the management of PBM in order to ensure transparency and establishment of Management Information System in its true spirit.