A 65-year-old woman, Noreen Malangi from Rahim Yar Khan, has had to spend the cold winter nights on the streets of Lahore as shelter homes in the city did not allow her in.
While talking to a private news outlet she said, “I came here alone, but the management of the shelter refused to let me in. Ever since, I have been spending my nights on the streets.”
Malangi has been sitting outside the Data Darbar shelter home
for a week. She went there twice but was sent back both times.
Another 62-year-old woman Aasia came to the shelter from Shahkot but was also sent back.
“They told me they didn’t have rooms for women but allowed men to come in the shelter,” she said.
As per reports, there is space for 750 men but just 115 women at five shelter homes across Lahore.
According to the management of the Data Darbar shelter, women
can’t be let in unless female staff is hired.
“We have halls and rooms already allotted for women but we are all men here,” said Fayyaz, the in charge of the Data Darbar shelter home.
“In case of an emergency with the women, how are we going to tackle the situation?” he asked.
Panagahs have been set up in different cities on the direction of Prime Minister Imran Khan who had issued instructions to the Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa chief ministers to ensure that all people have a roof over their heads in this freezing weather.
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