Pakistan sweet homes to be established in every district: President
ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari on Friday said that a conference of businessmen would be called next month to work out the establishment of Sweet Homes in every district of the country, which would be run on public-private partnership basis.Addressing a special ceremony arranged by Pakistan Bait-ul-Mal on Pakistan Sweet Homes here at the Aiwan-e-Sadr on Friday, the President made an impassioned appeal to well-off people of the country to step forward and generously support projects such as ‘Pakistan Sweet Homes’ to provide much needed support to the orphan and destitute children.
“There could be no substitute to the blessing of having parents but we can, at least, provide these children social cover and an environment to help them stand on their own feet and become asset for the society”, he added.
The President urged the well to do people and philanthropists to contribute generously to fill in the vacuum created by fate in the lives of such unfortunate children.
The President said that taking caring for orphaned children was a hallmark of the Muslim society. “This is what our religion teaches us.” “This being our religious and national responsibility, we will not let down the needy and the poor”, the President vowed.
The President commended Pakistan Bait-ul-Mal for launching Pakistan Sweet Homes project to look after orphan children. He said that it was heartening to learn that the project was being actively supported by Pakistani philanthropists.
He said that services of all those involved in this critical social service need to admired and commended.
While reiterating the commitment of Pakistan Peoples Party to the cause of poor and needy, the President said that taking care of the marginalized segments of the society was the hallmark of PPP which has always stood and fought for the rights of the women, children, the poor and dispossessed.
The President said that in order to provide financial and social cover to the poor and the needy, the PPP Government launched the Benazir Income Support Program.
This, he added, was intended to translate into reality the vision of Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto who always fought and struggled for the marginalized people of the country.
The President said that the PPP Government was determined to specially focus on ameliorating plight of poor of the country, especially the children and the women.
“Our initiative to distribute lands of the command areas of new dams among the poor women would help empower them in a real manner”, he added.
The President said that in view of large number of orphaned children there was a need for setting up a comprehensive network of such institutions all across the country.
This, he added, requires active and generous support of the civil society, media, well-off persons and the philanthropists.
The President said that protecting one needy child from falling into wrong hands by any citizen who can afford would not only contribute to his ultimate success in hereafter but it would be a source of great personal satisfaction and a great national service.
“By caring for these children and protecting them from falling into wrong hands we are in fact protecting our own children from becoming orphans”, he remarked.
The President on this occasion also announced to double the number of the orphan children, which he has already adopted.
President Zardari also gave away prizes and awards to the children of Pakistan Sweet Homes from across the country, who got distinguished positions in the sports activities during the sports week organized by Pakistan Bait-ul-Mal in Islamabad.
Earlier, Managing Director Pakistan Bait-ul-Mal, Zamurd Khan in his welcome remarks highlighted the activities and achievements of Pakistan Bait-ul-Mal, particularly the Sweet Home project.
He said 1500 orphaned children are being taken care of, with free education, food and residence, under the Pakistan Sweet Home project, which was initiated in March last year. 
