PM Imran inaugurates Poverty Alleviation program 'Ehsas'
Imran Khan said govt was also increasing spending by Rs80 billion in underdeveloped area.
ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) – Prime Minister Imran Khan on Wednesday said that poverty alleviation program “Ehsas” is Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government’s first step towards the country that was visualized on the basis of a welfare state.
Addressing the launching ceremony of Poverty Alleviation Program in Islamabad on Wednesday, he said that the programme is the commencement of a Jihad to alleviate poverty and bring the destitute people above the line of poverty, adding that the first step towards implementation of Ehsas Programme is to amend Article 38-D of the Constitution under which provision of food, clothes, shelter and health will be treated as fundamental rights of the people.
Imran Khan said that the government was also increasing spending by Rs80 billion in underdeveloped area. This will increase incrementally; and the next phase will be Rs120 billion.
The prime minister said that the government was also creating a new ministry which would be for social protection and poverty alleviation. This ministry will coordinate with all institutions that work on poverty alleviation and centralise the efforts and coordinate. All welfare organizations, including Pakistan Baitul Maal, Benazir Income Support Programme, and Poverty Alleviation Coordination Council, will be coordinated under this ministry.
PM Imran said: “Pakistan is the only country that was made in the name of Islam but what Islam teaches us and the model of Riasat-e-Madina; unfortunately no one ever researched it, we never looked into the depths of what made it such a successful society based on welfare & equality.”
He said that data is being collected about income and poverty to correctly assess the poverty indicators.
Khan said Ehsas Program will include the component of Tahaffuz, under which, survey will be conducted for financial assistance of the destitute people.
Similarly, saving accounts will be opened for 5.7 million poor women and mobile phones will be provided to these women for access to their bank accounts. He said the stipend of the poor women is being increased from five thousand rupees to five thousand and five hundred rupees. He said Tehsil level hubs will be established for these women, where they will get access to their bank accounts and receive assistance in job search.
Imran Khan said another component of the programme is Tahafuz under which, legal aid will be provided to any person in difficulty. Besides, assistance will also be provided to the destitute in health, education, and other sectors. Assistance will also be provided to the destitute widows.
The prime minister said that partnership will be made with NGOs to help the poor segments, adding that help will also be provided to stunted children street children, gipsy children, transgender and bonded labour through public-private partnership.
"Pakistan Baitul Maal has been assigned the task of funding homes for ten thousand children in the next four years, the prime minister said and added health programme is also being launched to provide health cover to three point three million people in thirty-eight districts.
Khan said: "Nine initiatives are being launched to overcome the nutrition problems of children with stunted growth, adding that the government will provide goats and hen to the women living in villages. He said they will also be provided seeds through utility stores for kitchen gardening to cultivate vegetables at their homes."
Talking about persons with Disabilities, he said 20 centers will be established by public-private partnership to facilitate them. He said Community Welfare Attaches will be deployed in embassies to facilitate overseas Pakistani workers and they will also be provided special fare ticket to return home.
To help poor students, the prime Minister said special vouchers will be given to them and they will be enabled to take admission in private educational institutions. He said twenty five billion rupees have been allocated for skill development or to establish a small business for people who are registered with BISP.
